Sclerosing Cholangitis

The cause of sclerosing cholangitis is unknown, though the condition is associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Genetic factors may also be responsible. Sclerosing cholangitis is rare in children and occurs more often in males than females.

Symptoms of sclerosing cholangitis include:

• Enlarged liver
• Enlarged spleen
• General discomfort, uneasiness or ill feeling
• Indigestion
• Itching
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• Loss of appetite

Diagnosis of Sclerosing Cholangitis

If your child experiences symptoms of sclerosing cholangitis, a pediatric gastroenterologist can perform the following exams and tests to help make a diagnosis:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Your child's doctor can perform a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to obtain pictures of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver.
• Ultrasound. Your child's doctor may perform an abdominal ultrasound to view the liver and surrounding ducts.
• Blood test. The physician may order a chemistry panel to determine how the liver is functioning.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure can give gastroenterologists advanced views of hard-to-reach areas of the small intestine and the bile and pancreatic ducts.
• Liver biopsy. Your child’s doctor may perform a liver biopsy to obtain a tissue sample from the liver. A close examination of these cells and tissues can provide more information about what is causing symptoms.