Tar-colored stool or Pale stool color
Cholestasis is a pale-colored stool that may be caused by disorders of the liver, pancreas or bile duct. This condition occurs when the flow of the bile between the liver and intestine cells is blocked. This causes the pigment bilirubin to escape into the bloodstream, where it begins to accumulate in the body. Normaly, bilirubin produced by the liver is temporarily stored in the gallbladder, and then moved to the digestive system to be excreted from the body via the feces. The majority of bilirubin excreted through the feces, while a smaller amount is excreted via urine.
Cholestasis can be caused by cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholic liver disease and acute viral hepatitis. Amoxicillin and other drugs, such as chlorpromazine and oral contraceptives, can cause a stasis in bilirubin. The presence of pale or dark colored stools can also be caused by hormonal effects during pregnancy, cancer spreading to the liver and a decrease in bilirubin flow.
