title: The management of primary sclerosing cholangitis.
abstract: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by a progressive, obliterating fibrosis of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. The pathogenesis of PSC is unknown, but it is thought to be an immune-mediated disease. Although the role of cupruretics, immunosuppressants (corticosteroids, azathioprine, tacrolimus, methotrexate), antifibrogenic agents, and ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis is reviewed, none of these agents has been shown to retard or reverse the rate of disease progression. Of these therapies, ursodeoxycholic acid at high doses looks the most promising, but large trials are needed to establish whether treatment with high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid influences the morbidity and mortality associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D010396:Penicillamine; D008727:Methotrexate