Contrasting Pattern of Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Primary and Autoimmune Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (AISC) are related, but distinct chronic liver diseases. PSC is associated with a high prevalence of ulcerative colitis while the intestinal inflammation associated with AISC is less well characterised. To assess and contrast aspects of intestinal inflammation in patients with AISC and PSC and compare the clinical features with those of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. 23 and 22 patients with AISC and PSC, respectively, underwent review of colonoscopy and biopsy findings, capsule enteroscopy and assessment of clinical and inflammatory (faecal calprotectin) disease activity, which was compared with that of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (n=55 each). Five and 6 patients with AISC and PSC, respectively, had normal colonoscopy and faecal calprotectin levels of 34.4±8.3 and 39.7±8.4μg/g, respectively (normal 0.05) between patients with intestinal inflammation in AISC (588±549μg/g), PSC (421±351μg/g), ulcerative colitis (501±656μg/g) or Crohn's disease (476±571μg/g). Capsule enteroscopy showed that 7 of 18 (39%) (p