Bile retention is not
an independent disease, but it is an important symptom
that needs to be treated. Otherwise, it can become a
promoting factor in liver fibrosis. When bile
retention is usually related to the following symptoms:
Jaundice
is the first symptom of bile retention. When serum
bilirubin increases and secretion of urine bilirubin
imbalance, jaundice start to show up. The degree of
jaundice can be described from golden yellow,
yellowish green, dark brown to deep dark green. This
degree of change is related to the advancement of
the disease. When the urine turns to be dark brown
and at the same time, stool becomes pale and
sometimes clay color.
-
Itchy skin and rashes, usually starts on the sole and palm and
gradually spreads to the whole body. The itching
sensation can be very severe and persistent, which
can also affect sleep. The severity of the itch is
related to the elevation of the level of bile acid
in the serum. With the improvement of liver function
after treatment, the itching will also be reduced or
eliminated completely.
- Fat
absorption deterioration: because much less bile
acid secrets into the intestine, fat digestion is
affected. Bile acid is the major chemical in the
digestion and absorption of fat nutrients. It plays
a major role in the emulsification of large fat
molecules from foods into smaller molecules for
absorption. Therefore, bile retention will cause
inadequate fat absorption, which can also cause
fatty diarrhea. At the same time, absorption of
vitamins such as vitamin A, K, D, E, which are only
dissolved in fat, will be compromised. Long-term
deficiency of these vitamins can cause
night-blindness, dry cornea and skin, bleeding and
osteoporosis.
- High
cholesterol, which can cause cardiovascular
problems. On the face, these will be xanthomas
around the eyes.
Although the
above listed symptoms could happen in bile retention,
the most common and often seen symptoms are jaundice,
skin itch and urine and stool color changes. Only in
long-term chronic bile retention, with progressive
deepening jaundice will fatty diarrhea, osteoporosis,
and xanthoma appear.
Some
blood tests can also indicate bile retention are:
Serum's
total and direct bilirubin elevation.
-
Serum cholesterol level increase.
- GGT,
ALP, increase, especially when levels of these
enzymes rise above three times the normal range.
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