Primary sclerosing cholangitis (global type, stage II): a case of effective ursodeoxycholic acid therapy

Abstract

We reported a case of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC); global type, stage II, in which ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was effectiv teo normaliz tehe serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)level. The patient was a 66 year-old man whose liver dysfunction was evaluated as the elevated level of ALP and positive anti-nuclea arntibody (ANA). In the intra-and extra-hepati bcile ducts, the wall-thickness was revealed by ultrasonography, and multiple narrowings and dilatations were characterized by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography(ERCP). In histopathology of the liver, fibrosis and chronic inflammation infiltrated the priporta pl arenchym tao form ‘piecemea nlecrosis’, and thus, the patient was classified stage II. The serum ALP level was normalized by administration of UDCA (600 mg/day) for 7 months, and thereafter, it remained within a normal range. Although the efficacy of UDCA for PSC was reported to be limited at stage I, this study suggested that a relatively old subject could successfully be treated by UDCA even at late stages.