Sclerosing cholangitis
Sclerosing Cholangitis
Sclerosing cholangitis (pronunciation: skle-ro-sing ko-lan-ji-tis) is a long-term progressive disease of the liver and gallbladder characterized by inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts which normally allow bile to drain from the gallbladder. Affected individuals may have progressive liver disease leading to liver failure.
Etymology
The term "sclerosing cholangitis" is derived from the Greek words "skleros," meaning hard, and "chole," meaning bile, and "angion," meaning vessel. Thus, it refers to the hardening of the bile vessels.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sclerosing cholangitis may include jaundice, pruritus, abdominal pain, and fatigue. In some cases, the disease may be asymptomatic and is discovered incidentally through abnormal liver function tests.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of sclerosing cholangitis can be challenging and often requires a combination of laboratory tests, imaging studies, and sometimes liver biopsy. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are commonly used.
Treatment
There is currently no known cure for sclerosing cholangitis. Treatment is aimed at managing symptoms and complications. This may include ursodeoxycholic acid for improving liver function, endoscopic therapy for managing bile duct complications, and liver transplantation in cases of advanced liver disease.
Prognosis
The prognosis of sclerosing cholangitis varies and is dependent on several factors including the stage of the disease at diagnosis, the individual's overall health, and the presence of other conditions such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or cholangiocarcinoma.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sclerosing cholangitis
- Wikipedia's article - Sclerosing cholangitis
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