title: Primary sclerosing cholangitis: updates in diagnosis and therapy.
abstract: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic syndrome of unknown origin mostly found in males, and characterized by diffuse inflammation and fibrosis of both intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts. So far, PSC is considered as an autoimmune hepatobiliary disease. In most cases the progression of PSC towards liver cirrhosis and liver failure is slow but irreversible, and liver transplantation is currently the only definitive treatment. In recent years, PSC has been an area of active research worldwide with great interest in etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic options such as hydrophilic ursodeoxycholic acid and immunosuppressive agent tacrolimus. Recent updates on clinical and therapeutic aspects of PSC are discussed in the present review.
authors.affiliation: Section of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal and Public Medicine (DIMIMP), University Medical School, Bari, Italy. p.portincasa@semeiotica.uniba.it
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Portincasa
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moschetta
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petruzzelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palasciano
authors.forename: Karel J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: van Erpecum
authors.forename: Gerard P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: van Berge-Henegouwen
mesh_terms: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid