Cholestasis is a condition, where the bile flow into the intestine is defective. The causes may be extrahepatic (in large biliary ducts) or intrahepatic (at the level of hepatocytes or minor biliary ducts). The lack of bile in the intestine results in serious consequences, mainly malabsorption, malnutrition and skeletal changes. The compounds, which are normally excreted in the bile, accumulate and liver biliary cirrhosis ensues. Cholestatis is characterized by a typical laboratory picture, outlined in publications, which serves for differentiation of individual forms of cholestasis. There are various causes of cholestasis, listed in the survey. Extrahepatic cholestasis must be treated as early as possible (by endoscopy or surgery). The highest attention is devoted mainly to chronic intrahepatic cholestatis: primary biliary cirrhosis. It affects mainly women at middle age and is most frequently considered as an autoimmune disease. A survey of present therapeutic possibilities for cholestasis is given. Ursodeoxycholic acid became the main therapeutic drug. It must be administered as early as possible and for long period of time in all cases.

Keywords: Cholestasis /diagnosis/; Humans