Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis: a Review of Recent Literature

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis is an emerging entity. Yet, because of the low incidence and varying etiologies of this disease, the literature is not robust. There are mainly case reports and small studies evaluating the disease. Our aim in this review is to bring the reader up to date with recent literature on secondary sclerosing cholangitis including the disease presentation, course, prognosis, and treatment options.

Numerous case reports have been published the last 5 years on secondary sclerosing cholangitis. We have divided them into infectious, drug-induced, ischemic, obstructive, and autoimmune etiologies. The bulk of the literature describes secondary sclerosing cholangitis in the critically ill patient. Secondary sclerosing cholangitis due to drugs or autoimmune causes seem to have the best prognosis. However, causes such as critical illness seem to have worse outcomes.