Course Overview

Cholestatic liver disease causes liver damage and fibrosis owing to bile stasis. It is represented by primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The pathogenesis of the disease is still unclear, although autoimmune mechanisms have been postulated and partially elucidated. Although the disease may progress slowly with only mild liver dysfunction, it may advance to liver cirrhosis or liver failure. People living with PBC are frequently symptomatic, experiencing a quality-of-life burden dominated by fatigue, itch, abdominal pain, and sicca complex.

As a medical treatment, ursodeoxycholic acid is widely used for PBC and has proved to be very effective against disease progression in cases of PBC. But new treatments are now available or in late-stage development, offering options in addition to Urso.

The seminar will explore the general natural history of PBC and PSC and provide information on the latest drug therapies currently available as well as those under investigation. A special section will focus on the frequent complaint of itching and will focus on the management of Cholestatic Pruritus.