Ursodeoxycholic acid's role in avoiding diversionary surgery in idiopathic fibrosing pancreatitis.
Obstructive jaundice in childhood is rare but a cause of great concern and warrants aggressive investigation into its aetiology. Idiopathic fibrosing pancreatitis (IFP) is a rare cause of this phenomenon and is presently a diagnosis of exclusion with lymphoma a main differential diagnosis. IFP appears to be a self limiting occurrence and as a result the previous gold standard of therapy of surgical diversion may ultimately be unnecessary. We describe ursodeoxycholic acid as a useful adjunct to treatment allowing more time for clinicians to evaluate the nature of the underlying disease process without hastily moving towards invasive surgery until clearly indicated.
Rosenbaum
Jeremy
J
Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia. jeremy@rosenbaum.net
Alex
George
G
Clarnette
Tom
T
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014739:Victoria
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid