Crohn’s disease
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, are found in about 80% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). About 80% of these patients suffer from ulcerative colitis and only 20% from Crohn’s disease. The simultaneous presence of chronic inflammatory bowel disease is therefore the rule rather than the exception!
Crohn’s disease, for example, is often diagnosed first with the typical symptoms of diarrhoea, weight loss and abdominal pain. A few years later, patients observe new symptoms such as fatigue or upper abdominal pain, but suspect the intestinal disease as the trigger. For this reason, the typical symptoms of PSC should be checked for each diagnosed case of Crohn’s disease!