Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: Diagnostic and Management Challenges

Overview

Journal Clin Exp Gastroenterol

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2017 Nov 16

PMID 29138587

Citations 24

Authors

Sanjeev Sirpal

Natasha Chandok

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, primarily the large biliary ducts. Clinical manifestations are broad, and the spectrum encompasses asymptomatic cholestasis, icteric cholangitis with pruritis, cirrhosis, and cholangiocarcinoma. Though rare, PSC has a propensity to affect young to middle-aged males and is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease. There is an unmet need for effective medical treatments for PSC, and to date, the only curative therapy is liver transplantation reserved for those with end-stage liver disease. This article addresses the diagnostic and management challenges of PSC, with a succinct analysis of existing therapies, their limitations, and a glimpse into the future of the management of this multifaceted pathologic entity.

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