Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts, resulting in end-stage liver disease and reduced life expectancy. PSC primarily affects young and middle-aged men, often in association with underlying inflammato...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marina G Silveira, Keith D Lindor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2008-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/824168
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832553533342220288
author Marina G Silveira
Keith D Lindor
author_facet Marina G Silveira
Keith D Lindor
author_sort Marina G Silveira
collection DOAJ
description Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts, resulting in end-stage liver disease and reduced life expectancy. PSC primarily affects young and middle-aged men, often in association with underlying inflammatory bowel disease. The etiology of PSC includes immune-mediated components and elements of undefined nature. A cholestatic picture of liver biochemistries with elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase, nonspecific autoantibodies such as perinuclear antineutrophilic antibody, antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies, and diffuse multifocal biliary strictures, resulting in a ‘beaded’ appearance on radiographic studies, are the hallmarks of the disease. No effective medical therapy is currently available, although clinical studies are in progress. Ursodeoxycholic acid at high doses (28 mg/kg/day to 30 mg/kg/day) is the most promising agent but is unproven so far. Liver transplantation is currently the only life-extending therapy for patients with end-stage disease, although recurrent disease can be observed in the transplanted liver. The multiple complications of PSC include pruritus, fatigue, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic bone disease, peristomal varices, bacterial cholangitis, dominant biliary strictures, gallbladder stones and polyps, and malignancy, particularly cholangiocarcinoma, which is the most lethal complication of PSC.
format Article
id doaj-art-3d0a59bbd0764b9e9561875d56d47f98
institution Kabale University
issn 0835-7900
language English
publishDate 2008-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
spelling doaj-art-3d0a59bbd0764b9e9561875d56d47f982025-02-03T05:53:47ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79002008-01-0122868969810.1155/2008/824168Primary sclerosing cholangitisMarina G Silveira0Keith D Lindor1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Miles and Shirley Fiterman Center for Digestive Diseases, Mayo Clinic and Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, USADivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Miles and Shirley Fiterman Center for Digestive Diseases, Mayo Clinic and Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, Minnesota, USAPrimary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts, resulting in end-stage liver disease and reduced life expectancy. PSC primarily affects young and middle-aged men, often in association with underlying inflammatory bowel disease. The etiology of PSC includes immune-mediated components and elements of undefined nature. A cholestatic picture of liver biochemistries with elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase, nonspecific autoantibodies such as perinuclear antineutrophilic antibody, antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies, and diffuse multifocal biliary strictures, resulting in a ‘beaded’ appearance on radiographic studies, are the hallmarks of the disease. No effective medical therapy is currently available, although clinical studies are in progress. Ursodeoxycholic acid at high doses (28 mg/kg/day to 30 mg/kg/day) is the most promising agent but is unproven so far. Liver transplantation is currently the only life-extending therapy for patients with end-stage disease, although recurrent disease can be observed in the transplanted liver. The multiple complications of PSC include pruritus, fatigue, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic bone disease, peristomal varices, bacterial cholangitis, dominant biliary strictures, gallbladder stones and polyps, and malignancy, particularly cholangiocarcinoma, which is the most lethal complication of PSC.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/824168
spellingShingle Marina G Silveira
Keith D Lindor
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
title Primary sclerosing cholangitis
title_full Primary sclerosing cholangitis
title_fullStr Primary sclerosing cholangitis
title_full_unstemmed Primary sclerosing cholangitis
title_short Primary sclerosing cholangitis
title_sort primary sclerosing cholangitis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/824168
work_keys_str_mv AT marinagsilveira primarysclerosingcholangitis
AT keithdlindor primarysclerosingcholangitis