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Sclerosing cholangitis Causes and Risks:
All the bile ducts within and outside the liver become narrowed and scarred. The cause is unknown. The disease is associated with inflammatory bowel disease , and genetic factors may play a causative role. The disease is progressive and most patients develop biliary cirrhosis , persistent jaundice , and liver failure. The diagnosis is made, in part, by eliminating other diseases of the biliary system (for example, by absence of stones in the gallbladder or biliary system). The disease occurs more often in men. The incidence is 1 out of 10,000 people. This disorder is rare in children.
Prevention:
Unknown
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
- Tests that show cholangitis:
- Blood tests that reveal abnormal function:
Treatment:
Endoscopic balloon dilation of strictures may relieve symptoms. Endoscopic stent (drain or tube) placement for major strictures may be a possibility. Liver transplantation prior to liver failure is a possibility in selected cases.
Prognosis:
Prognosis is poor, most persons survive just a few years after the symptoms develop.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider if persistent jaundice and itching are present.
This illustration shows the major organs of the digestive system. Their relative sizes and positioning in the body are also demonstrated.
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