Contrasting Pattern of Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Primary and Autoimmune Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (AISC) are related, but distinct chronic liver diseases. PSC is associated with a high prevalence of ulcerative colitis while the intestinal inflammation associated with AISC is less well characterised.

Aims: To assess and contrast aspects of intestinal inflammation in patients with AISC and PSC and compare the clinical features with those of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Adverse effects of drugs on small intestine and colon.

The small and large intestine are one of the most common sites for the adverse action of drugs, accounting for 20-40% of all drug side effects. The most important factor in the diagnosis of drug-induced intestinal side effect is awareness. The mechanisms of damage are invariably complex, but may be due to topical effects, a known pharmacologic action of the drug on motility (for instance cholinergic/anti-cholinergic effect) and/or secretion, immune suppression and in the case of cytotoxic drug treatment a combination of many actions.