Low prevalence of alterations in the pancreatic duct system in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
OBJECTIVE
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare disease of unknown origin that involves the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary system, or both. To obtain more precise information on concomitant involvement of the pancreatic duct system, a comparatively large group of 44 patients was studied.


METHODS
Between 1989 and 1995, 44 patients took part in a study of the therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid, and their data were analyzed. In 42 of the 44 patients, both the pancreatic and biliary system were visualized by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).


RESULTS
Pancreas divisum was detected in four patients (9.5%) with an otherwise normal major pancreatic duct. Three (7.1%) patients had pancreatic duct changes of the type seen in chronic pancreatitis. When risk factors such as alcohol abuse were excluded, there was only one patient with PSC and pancreatic duct alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
In PSC patients, the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis is low.
Schimanski
U
U
Dept. of Internal Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Stiehl
A
A
Stremmel
W
W
Theilmann
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D000431:Ethanol; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid