What is cholangitis?
Cholangitis is a condition caused by an inflammatory process of the bile ducts in the liver and outside of the liver. This causes blocking of the bile ducts, which will also cause cirrhosis of the liver. There is another form of cholangitis. It is an autoimmune type called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) where there is a chronic inflammation of the bile ducts.
There can also be an underlying infection, some bile duct tumor or underlying AIDS infection present. In that latter case there are chronic infections that cause scarring and the development of cirrhosis of the liver.
What are the signs and symptoms of cholangitis?
The signs and symptoms of cholangitis vary depending on its cause. Early indicators include fatigue, itchy skin, and the development of jaundice. There may also be right upper abdominal pain and a fever.
If hepatitis is present, symptoms of liver and spleen enlargement, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, increased blood pressure in the veins and bleeding from esophageal veins can occur.
How is cholangitis treated?
As this is a very clinically complex chronic illness, a specialist such as a gastroenterologist should be involved in the management of the disease. If there are bouts of recurrent bacterial cholangitis, samples of bile will be used in a procedure to help determine which antibiotic will eliminate the infection. In end stage disease, a liver transplant might be the only cure.
There is an FDA-approved non-drug method available, IceWave patches from Lifewave, to help control pain. These pain patches would be useful in the more chronic forms of cholangitis (not indicated in cases where immediate surgery is expected).
