Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis history and symptoms
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The majority of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis are asymptomatic and are only diagnosed following an abnormal liver function tests. However, those who are symptomatic often present with nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea; as well as yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
About 50% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis are asymptomatic. These asymptomatic patients are often diagnosed after a panel of liver function tests (LFTs) have been ordered and results have been found to be abnormal. The most common abnormalities are elevated ALT, ALP and GGT. However, when patients are symptomatic, the most common presenting symptoms are:[1][2][3][4][5]
- Abdominal pain, mainly in the right upper quadrant (RUQ)
- Itching (pruritis)
- Fatigue
- Yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (jaundice)
- Diarrhea
- Feeling of hotness or documented elevation of temperature (fever)
- Weight loss
References
References
- ↑ Kaplan GG, Laupland KB, Butzner D, Urbanski SJ, Lee SS (2007). “The burden of large and small duct primary sclerosing cholangitis in adults and children: a population-based analysis”. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 102 (5): 1042–9. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01103.x. PMID 17313496.
- ↑ Lazaridis KN, LaRusso NF (2016). “Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis”. N. Engl. J. Med. 375 (12): 1161–70. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1506330. PMID 27653566.
- ↑ Tischendorf JJ, Hecker H, Krüger M, Manns MP, Meier PN (2007). “Characterization, outcome, and prognosis in 273 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A single center study”. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 102 (1): 107–14. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00872.x. PMID 17037993.
- ↑ Bambha K, Kim WR, Talwalkar J, Torgerson H, Benson JT, Therneau TM, Loftus EV, Yawn BP, Dickson ER, Melton LJ (2003). “Incidence, clinical spectrum, and outcomes of primary sclerosing cholangitis in a United States community”. Gastroenterology. 125 (5): 1364–9. PMID 14598252.
- ↑ Silveira MG, Lindor KD (2008). “Primary sclerosing cholangitis”. Can. J. Gastroenterol. 22 (8): 689–98. PMC 2661291. PMID 18701947.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dima Nimri, M.D. [2]