Sclerotic cholangitis is a rare and most common disease in humans, characterized by liver damage from inflammation and fibrosis caused by narrowing of the ducts through which bile passes, a fundamental substance of the digestive process, which occurs most of the time as a result of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis.
Most cases of chorynitis do not lead to the onset of symptoms, being diagnosed only by images and laboratory tests, which identify changes in the liver It is important that the diagnosis is made as soon as possible, since cholangitis can lead to several health problems.complications when not treated quickly and correctly.
- Most people with chorynitis have no symptoms and are identified by testing; on the other hand.
- In some cases.
- Signs and symptoms of cholangitis may be identified.
- Such as:.
In some cases there may also be diarrhoea, abdominal pain and the presence of blood or snot in the stool, in the presence of these symptoms, especially if they are recurrent or constant, it is important to consult the family doctor or hepatologist so that tests can be done and appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Sclerotic cholangitis can be classified as acute or chronic, observed in an acute infection of the bile ducts both inside and outside the liver and chronically, a constant accumulation of bile in the liver that leads to cirrhosis and increases the risk of cancer.
This situation can still be classified as primary or secondary cholangitis sclerosis, where in the primary means that the problem started even in the bile ducts, while in the secondary form, the disease is due to another problem such as a tumor or trauma in this Region.
The causes of sclerosis cholangitis are not yet well established and may be due to infection with viruses or bacteria, are the result of autoimmune diseases, or may be related to genetic factors.Sclerotic cholangitis is also thought to be related to ulcerative colitis, in which people with this type of inflammatory bowel disease had an increased risk of developing cholangitis.
Diagnosis is made by the family doctor or hepatologist using laboratory and imaging tests.Initial diagnosis is usually based on test results that evaluate liver function, with changes in the number of liver enzymes, such as TGO and TGP, as well as an increase in alkaline and gamma-GT phosphatase.In some cases, your doctor may also order protein electrophoresis, which may include elevated levels of gammaglobulins, mainly IgG.
To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may order a liver biopsy and a cholangiography, which is a diagnostic test that aims to evaluate the bile ducts and check the path of hepatic bile to the duodenum, allowing you to visualize the changes and understand how the cholangiography is performed.
Treatment of chorynitis is based on the severity of cholangitis, and the doctor may indicate the use of the drug containing ursodoxycholic acid, known commercially as Ursacol, in addition to endoscopic treatment to reduce the degree of obstruction and promote the passage of bile In the most severe cases, your doctor may recommend a liver transplant.
It is important that treatment is initiated shortly after diagnosis to prevent disease progression and cause complications such as cirrhosis, hypertension and liver failure.