Frequency and risk factors of primary sclerosing cholangitis among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in North-East of Iran.
OBJECTIVE
To identify primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) predisposing factors in order to prevent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression to PSC.


BACKGROUND
IBD is commonly associated with PSC and there is no effective therapy for PSC except for liver transplantation.


METHODS
This retrospective study was conducted on 447 IBD patients from IBD Clinics of Ghaem and Emam Reza Hospitals. Data were collected by interview and through a review of the patients' medical records. Patients were divided into two groups: those with IBD and PSC (IBD-PSC) and those without PSC. Variables were compared between two groups and those with statistically significant differences in IBD-PSC group were considered as predictive factors for the development of PSC.


RESULTS
The frequency of PSC in IBDs was 4.3% and all were ulcerative colitis. The mean age of patients with PSC was 39.1±11.33 years. The male to female proportion in PSCs was 3.8:1 and in IBDs was 0.9:1. There were statistically significant associations between PSC and gender, IBD duration and UC extension, mucocutaneous involvement, oral contraceptive pills (OCP) consumption, history of surgery and history of PSC in the first- degree relatives.


CONCLUSIONS
PSC frequency among IBD patients in North-East of Iran was 4.3%. It is recommended to limit OCP consumption in IBD patients. Identification and modification of probable predisposing risk factors, as well as early diagnosis of PSC are necessary.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
Ahmad
A
Khosravi Khorashad
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Khajedaluee
Gastroenterology and Hepatoloy Department, Nayshabour Faculty of Medical Sciences, Nayshabour, Iran.
Elham
E
Mokhtari Amirmajdi
Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Ali
A
Bahari
Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Farzanehfar
Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mitra
M
Ahadi
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
Siavash
S
Abedini
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Abdollahi
Center of Pathological and Medical Diagnostic Services, Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture & Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.
Rosita
R
Vakili
Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hassan
H
Vossoughi Nia
Crohn’s disease; IBD; PSC; Prevalence; Ulcerative colitis