ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress on the pathogenesis of ischemic bile duct injury after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).MethodThe recent studies on the incidence, pathological features and related mechanisms of ischemic bile duct injury and ischemic bile duct injury after TACE were reviewed.ResultsThe incidence of ischemic bile duct injury after liver TACE fluctuated greatly and was related to different chemoembolization methods. At present, the causes of ischemic bile duct injury were attributed to the bile duct ischemia caused by embolization and the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. The destruction of protective mechanism of bile duct epithelium and the expression of transforming growth factor-β might play an important role in ischemic bile duct injury.ConclusionsAfter liver TACE, in addition to the direct injury of bile duct caused by the toxic effects of ischemia and chemotherapy drugs, the damage of bile duct epithelial protection mechanism caused by ischemia and chemotherapy drugs makes the toxic effects of bile acids play a very important role in the ischemic bile duct injury. However, there is still no direct evidence of bile duct epithelial protection mechanism in ischemic bile duct injury after liver TACE. Further clarifying the role of bile duct epithelial protection mechanism in ischemic bile duct injury after liver TACE will be helpful to explore its prevention and treatment measures, and provide new insights for the further studies in future.