What Is Cholangitis?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
3. Causes
It is not always possible to determine the cause of cholangitis. Both chronic and acute cases can result from bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infections. Bacterial infection is a common culprit. An infection in your blood can spread to your bile duct system and cause cholangitis, or sometimes there is a backflow of bacteria from the small intestine. Smoking is another potential cause.
The most common cause of acute cholangitis is blockage or narrowing of the bile ducts. This may occur due to gallstones. Swelling of another organ, such as the pancreas, can put pressure on the bile ducts and cause them to narrow.
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