Pericholangitis and Ulcerative Colitis

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Abstract
The clinical presentation and course of ulcerative colitis were assessed in 24 cases of pericholangitis and ulcerative colitis which were diagnosed by liver biopsy and followed for periods up to 32 years. Pericholangitis was found to be the most common hepatic complication of ulcerative colitis, with fatty liver being predominantly a postmortem complication. Asymptomatic liver disease having the typical abnormal liver function test with pericholangitis was the most common and occurred in 13 patients. Marked elevation of the serum alkaline phosphatase, hypercholesterolemia and sulfobromophthalein sodium retention were common to all patients. Hyperbilirubinemia occurred in patients with cholestasis, although occasionally cholangitis occurred in the absence of jaundice. There were only minor alternations in zinc sulphate and thymol tur-bidity. Paper electrophoresis of the serum proteins did not reveal any marked change. Transaminase elevations were found in 7 of 9 patients but in only 1 instance exceeded 200 units. There was no correlation between the presence and severity of liver disease and the presence of severe colitis.