[Therapy of primary sclerosing cholangitis]

In primary sclerosing cholangitis the aim of treatment is a reduction of the inflammatory destruction of the bile ducts leading to cholestasis and irreversible liver damage. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid may decrease the periductular inflammation. Bacterial infection of the bile ducts is frequent and should be treated by antibiotics. Medical treatment of the disease may be successful under the assumption that dominant stenoses are treated endoscopically.