Mechanisms of cholestasis.

This article gives an overview of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cholestasis. Topics reviewed include the pathomechanisms of hereditary cholestasis syndromes, such as progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, and hepatocellular transporter defects encountered in various acquired cholestatic disorders, such as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, drug-induced cholestasis, inflammatory cholestasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis. In addition, current concepts regarding adaptive hepatocellular mechanisms counteracting cholestatic liver damage are discussed.