Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) among patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) needing proctocolectomy.

METHODS:

The study sample included 441 consecutive patients who underwent proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis from 1993 to 2004 at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Liver biopsy samples were taken at operation. Patient groups with and without PSC were compared.

RESULTS:

PSC was present in 52 (11.8%) patients. Only 19 of these had been diagnosed before surgery; 40 patients with PSC were detected by liver biopsy at the operation, making the sensitivity of perioperative liver biopsy to diagnose PSC 83.3%. The cumulative incidence of colorectal dysplasia or cancer in the UC patients with PSC (19% after 10 years and 43% after 20 years) was not significantly different than that of UC patients without PSC (24% after 10 years and 39% after 20 years). Pouchitis occurred more often in patients with PSC (25 of 52; 48.1% versus 101 of 389, 26.0%; P = 0.001). The failure rate of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis did not significantly differ between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of PSC among patients with UC needing proctocolectomy was higher than in patients with UC in general. Liver biopsy can be recommended as a safe adjunct at proctocolectomy for surveillance of any liver effects.