Hepatobiliary disorders in inflammatory bowel disease

Every physician managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease should be alert to the possibility of the development of hepatobiliary disorders, especially in patients with extensive colonic involvement. There is the question concerning type of follow-up study to be instituted in patients with IBD. Elevation of the level of serum alkaline phosphatase appears to be the most useful and consistent biochemical indicator of hepatic dysfunction (101). This should be estimated at six monthly intervals. A persistent elevation of the level of serum alkaline phosphatase or more overt clinical manifestations, such as pain in the right upper quadrant, hepatomegaly, obstructive jaundice or weight loss, would all indicate the need for further investigations. This would normally take the form of roentgenologic investigation of the biliary tree and biopsy of the liver. Once a patient with IBD has been diagnosed as having one or more hepatobiliary disorders, what is the appropriate management? Each instance should be treated individually according to the nature of the disorder. In general, most of these conditions are histologic abnormalities and are of little clinical importance. There is the question of whether or not there is a role for prophylactic colectomy. There has been conflicting evidence to both support and refute the rationale that colectomy will prevent the development of, or arrest, existing disease of the liver. In the view of the authors, based upon a large experience with the management of these patients, the indication for colectomy should be based upon the severity and extent of colonic disease and almost never upon the existence of associated hepatobiliary disorders.