Nonoperative dilatation of dominant strictures in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

While most cases of primary sclerosing cholangitis are characterized by multifocal bile duct strictures, a few have a localized high-grade stricture (dominant stricture) superimposed on diffuse disease. This dominant stricture may cause jaundice or bacterial cholangitis in some patients. Dominant strictures were percutaneously dilated in 14 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and jaundice or bacterial cholangitis. Stricture dilatation produced a significant decrease in the frequency of cholangitis and a significant decrease in serum bilirubin in those with recent onset of jaundice. The only complication was bacteremia or cholangitis in five patients. Three of nine patients with successful dilatations developed recurrent strictures at 6-18 months. Balloon dilatation should be considered the treatment of choice for dominant strictures in symptomatic patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis who have recent onset of jaundice (less than 6 months' duration) or recurrent episodes of bacterial cholangitis.