Liver and Gallbladder's Articles Archives

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (Narrowing Bile Duct Disease)

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Definition and Meaning of PSC

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)  is a condition where the bile ducts are diseased and become thick, hard and narrow. This prevents the flow of bile through the ducts. Although there are many diseases that can damage the bile duct (secondary cholangitis), in primary sclerosing cholangitis there is no underlying disease that can be identified which affects the bile ducts. It appears to occur independently. Over time the narrowing can reach a point where the bile duct is almost entirely occluded with a complete stoppage of bile flow. It may lead to severe and even permanent damage of the liver which can then progress to liver failure.


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Biliary Strictures (Bile Duct Narrowing)

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Definition

A biliary stricture is any narrowing of the bile duct, the tube that carries bile between the liver, gallbladder and duodenum of the small intestine. A minor narrowing does not significantly impede bile movement and a person may be asymptomatic. It is only with a severe degree of obstruction or even complete blockage that symptoms arise. There are number of reasons why a narrowing may arise. Sometimes it may be due to cancer but a fairly common benign cause is injury to the duct after gallbladder surgery and diagnostic investigations of the biliary tree. . When left untreated it can lead to complications ranging from gallstones to a bile duct infection and even liver abscess.

 
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Acalculous Cholecystitis (Gallbladder Inflammation Without Stones)

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Definition

Acalculous cholecystitis is the term for inflammation of the gallbladder that is not due to the presence of gallstones. Most cases of acute cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder) occurs due to gallbladder stones (within the gallbladder) or biliary stones (lodged in the bile duct). In these cases it is referred to as calculous cholecystitis. Since it is so common, acute cholecystitis is considered to be synonymous with calculous cholecystitis. It is therefore important to differentiate acalculous cholecystitis specifically. Although it is less common, acalculous cholecystitis is associated with more serious complications, some of which can be life-threatening.


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Portal Hypertension (High Blood Pressure in Vein to Liver)

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Portal Hypertension Definition

Portal hypertension is the medical term for elevated blood pressure with the major vein of the liver, the hepatic portal vein. Although it is most commonly caused by liver cirrhosis, it can be due to a number of other causes that may not even involve the liver. Therefore portal hypertension is an important clinical sign of a wide range of diseases. In the long term, the prolonged hypertension can cause a host of complications within the liver and entire body, some of which can be life threatening.


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Wilson’s Disease (Inherited Copper Toxicity Disease)

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What is Wilson’s disease?

Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder that hampers the body’s ability to bind and transport copper thereby leading to accumulation of copper in the body. Over time copper deposition occurs in various different organs and tissues. Copper in its free form is toxic and damages the organs where it accumulates. As the body is not able to manage the copper appropriately, the metal builds up in the body from the time of birth. However, symptoms may only be noted by the age of 5 years or even later in life. Wilson’s disease is rare and only affects about 1 in 30,000 people.


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