Ductopenia refers to a reduction in the number of ducts in an organ, in particular the absence of bile ducts of the expected size in the portal tract of the liver.[1] It is the histological hallmark of vanishing bile duct syndrome (typically <0.5 bile ducts per portal triad). The most common cause of ductopenia is primary biliary cholangitis.

Other causes of ductopenia include failing liver transplant, Hodgkin's lymphoma, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), sarcoid, cytomegalovirus infection, HIV, and medication toxicity, such as phenothiazines.

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  1. ^ Alastair D. Burt; Linda D. Ferrell; Stefan G Hubscher; Bernard C. Portmann (30 August 2011). MacSween's Pathology of the Liver E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 499. ISBN 978-0-7020-4754-1.

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