Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1987-12-30
pubmed:abstractText
PSC is an unusual disease of unknown etiology. In fact, sclerosis of the bile ducts may be the result of multiple factors, including autoimmune, bacterial, congenital, drug, or viral agents. The most commonly associated diseases are ulcerative colitis and chronic pancreatitis. Except for the earliest stages of the disease, liver histology is not specific. Most patients present with jaundice, pain, and pruritus, although an increasing number of asymptomatic patients with inflammatory bowel disease and abnormal liver function are being diagnosed. Cholangiography is the key to the diagnosis and is usually pathognomonic except in the unusual case where PSC is confused with cholangiocarcinoma. Multiple forms of medical therapy have been tried, including steroids, azothiaprine, D-penicillamine, colchicine, cholestyramine, and antibiotics. To date, however, none of these medications has altered the course of this disease. In recent years, balloon dilation of biliary strictures has been accomplished via endoscopic and percutaneous transhepatic approaches. However, in patients with PSC these nonoperative manipulations must be done repeatedly, may require multiple general anesthetics, and are difficult to perform. A direct surgical approach to the biliary tree with prolonged transhepatic stenting is indicated in patients with severe hilar or extrahepatic stricturing, persistent jaundice and/or recurrent cholangitis, and no evidence of cirrhosis. Hepatic transplantation should be reserved for patients with PSC who have well-established cirrhosis and in whom other therapeutic options have failed.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0065-3411
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
21
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
65-92
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-11
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1988
pubmed:articleTitle
Sclerosing cholangitis.
pubmed:affiliation
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review