Low prevalence of alterations in the pancreatic duct system in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare disease of unknown origin that involves the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary system, or both. To obtain more precise information on concomitant involvement of the pancreatic duct system, a comparatively large group of 44 patients was studied.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Between 1989 and 1995, 44 patients took part in a study of the therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid, and their data were analyzed. In 42 of the 44 patients, both the pancreatic and biliary system were visualized by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

RESULTS

Pancreas divisum was detected in four patients (9.5%) with an otherwise normal major pancreatic duct. Three (7.1%) patients had pancreatic duct changes of the type seen in chronic pancreatitis. When risk factors such as alcohol abuse were excluded, there was only one patient with PSC and pancreatic duct alterations.

CONCLUSION

In PSC patients, the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis is low.