Search

Stadaas, J. & Schrumpf, E. Intragastric pressure/volume relationship and gastrin release after distention of separate parts of the stomach. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 781–785.Intragastric pressu...

Schrumpf. E., Roland. M. & Liavag. I Serum gastrin and gastric acid secretion before and after proximal gastric vagotomy. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974 9, 115–118.Serial determinations of fasting gastr...

Background & Aim: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) represents a devastating bile duct disease, currently lacking effective medical therapy. 24-norursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA) is a side chain-shortened C-23 homologue of UDCA and has shown potent anti-cholestatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in a preclinical PSC mouse model. A randomized controlled trial, including 38 centers from 12 European countries, evaluated the safety and efficacy of three doses of oral norUDCA (500 mg/d, 1,000 mg/d or 1,500 mg/d) compared with placebo in patients with PSC. Methods: One hundred sixty-one PSC patients without concomitant UDCA therapy and with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were randomized for a 12-week treatment followed by a 4-week follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean relative change in ALP levels between baseline and end of treatment visit. Results: norUDCA reduced ALP levels by -12.3%, -17.3%, and -26.0% in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg/d groups (p = 0.029, tively, while a +1.2% increase was observed in the placebo group. Similar dose-dependent results were found for secondary end-points, such as ALT, AST, gamma-GT, or the rate of patients achieving ALP levels

In the 4-year period 1980-83 sclerosing cholangitis was demonstrated in 7 out of 151 patients with ulcerative colitis hospitalized in our department. Total ulcerative colitis was demonstrated in all patients with sclerosing cholangitis, whereas abnormal pancreatograms compatible with chronic pancreatitis were seen in four of these patients. According to the criteria of Kasugai, one had minimal, two moderate, and one advanced changes of chronic pancreatitis. Although three of four patients had been treated with drugs known to induce pancreatitis (sulfasalazine and corticosteroids), it is tempting to assume that ulcerative colitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and pancreatitis, when seen in combination, are manifestations of autoimmune diseases with a genetic predisposition. A mechanical mechanism for the development of chronic pancreatitis in sclerosing cholangitis must also be considered.

The number of orthotopic liver transplantations per year in Norway is smaller than in other countries of Northern Europe. Relatively fewer liver transplantations are performed both in the case of accepted indications such as primary biliary cirrhosis and acute liver failure, and for more arguable indications like post viral cirrhosis and alcoholic liver disease. The authors discuss priorities in health care in Norway. The efficacy of liver transplantation for selected groups of patients is compared with the efficacy of bone marrow transplantation for another selected group of patients. If indications and activity of bone marrow transplantation depict the threshold of prioritization, then more patients with chronic liver disease should be offered liver transplantation as therapy.