Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic cholestatic liver disease in which inflammation and scarring narrow bile ducts inside and outside the liver, often producing multifocal strictures.

Cholangiopathy: A disease affecting the bile ducts, including their structure, function, or both. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic, fibrosing disorder of the biliary tree.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: An MRI technique that creates images of the pancreatic and biliary ducts without invasive duct instrumentation. It commonly demonstrates the multifocal strictures and dilatations characteristic of the disease.
Ulcerative colitis: A chronic inflammatory bowel disease causing continuous inflammation of the colon’s inner lining. It is the inflammatory bowel disease most strongly associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Gut–liver axis: The bidirectional physiological and immune connections between the intestine and the liver. Its role may help explain the frequent coexistence of bowel inflammation and bile-duct disease.
Bile duct: A tubular structure that carries bile from the liver toward the intestine. Inflammation and scarring affect ducts both within and outside the liver.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: An endoscopic procedure that images and treats the pancreatic and bile ducts using contrast and X-rays. It can sample or treat relevant strictures when imaging or symptoms warrant intervention.
Inflammatory bowel disease: A group of chronic disorders involving inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, chiefly Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. A large proportion of affected people also have inflammatory bowel disease.
Microbiome: The communities of microorganisms living in a particular environment and their collective genetic material. Studies examine whether intestinal microbial changes contribute to disease onset or progression.
Cholestasis: Impaired formation or flow of bile that causes bile constituents to accumulate in the liver or blood. Multifocal strictures impede bile flow and produce a cholestatic pattern of liver injury.
Liver biopsy: A procedure that removes a small liver tissue sample for microscopic examination. Biopsy may help when imaging is inconclusive or small-duct disease is suspected.

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