Primary sclerosing cholangitis in pregnancy refractory to ursodeoxycholic acid treatment: a case report
Heidi Leftwich1, Yu Ming Victor Fang, Adam Borgida
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. hleftwich@resident.uchc.edu
Background:
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease associated with fibrosis and inflammation of the bile ducts. Its complications include symptoms from pruritis and fatigue to dominant strictures, cholangiocarcinoma and liver failure necessitating liver transplant. Due to its predominance in young males, little is reported regarding PSC and pregnancy.
Case:
We report a case of a pregnant woman with PSC whose symptoms were initially unresponsive to the traditional treatment of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) early in her pregnancy but subsequently did well using high dose steroids for the duration of her pregnancy.
Conclusion:
With close management, successful pregnancy outcomes seem possible with patients with PSC, even when diagnosed multiple years prior to pregnancy, if not with UDCA, then possibly with steroid treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Cholecystitis
01:29Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...