[Icterus and cirrhosis: physiopathology]

The various factors are reviewed which may contribute to the appearance of jaundice in patients with cirrhosis. During the prehepatic phase, hemolysis, spenomegaly and a drop in coagulation factors constitute the main physiopathological mechanisms, whereas intrahepatic cholestasis, alcoholic hepatitis, hepatoma and terminal hepatic insufficiency are the principal mechanisms cited for the hepatic stage. In the posthepatic stage, attention is drawn to the increased frequency of lithiasis in cirrhotic patients and the choledochal lesions seen in chronic pancreatitis.