Cholangitis - CSD Student Contribution

Cholangitis

What is cholangitis? Cholangitis is an inflammation of the bile duct. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection which causes an ascending cholangitis. However, there are other types of cholangitis as well. In acute cholangitis, the bacterial infection is secondary to biliary tract obstruction which is commonly caused from a gallstone, but may also be associated with neoplasm, elevated intraluminal pressure, bile infection, or stricture of the biliary tract. This infection diminishes antibacterial defenses, which causes immune dysfunction, and thus small bowel bacterial colonization and further possible infection (such as into the biliary canaliculi, hepatic veins, and perihepatic lymphatics).