Three cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with ulcerative colitis; diagnostic usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is often accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease in western countries. However, the incidence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis appears to be much lower in Japan.

METHODOLOGY

Between 1980 and 1998, a total of 402 patients with ulcerative colitis were seen in our department. The patients were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography when persisting abnormalities of biochemical findings suggested the presence of hepatobiliary diseases.

RESULTS

Of the 402 patients with ulcerative colitis, 3 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis were found. There were 2 men and 1 woman. One patient had left-sided colitis while 2 had total colitis. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was done in 2 of these 3 patients and demonstrated diagnostic features of primary sclerosing cholangitis. All 3 patients had intra- and extrahepatic involvement by primary sclerosing cholangitis. One male patient died due to progressive hepatic failure. The other male patient was treated with ursodeoxycholic acid, but serum alkaline phosphatase level remained above the normal range. The female patient maintained normal serum alkaline phosphatase levels without specific medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is the most safe and convincing tool for the diagnosis of coexistent primary sclerosing cholangitis in the patients with ulcerative colitis.