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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A Danish study found that nearly 1 in 10 newly diagnosed IBD patients had primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) detectable by MRCP imaging — and nearly half showed no abnormal liver blood tests. The findings suggest MRCP at IBD diagnosis could catch a serious liver condition that standard labs miss, though more research is needed before it becomes standard practice.
A prospective Danish cohort study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that radiological primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) — a progressive liver disease — was present in nearly 10% of adults newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Of 389 patients who underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), 8% had confirmed radiological PSC and an additional 1.8% had PSC-like lesions, bringing the combined prevalence to nearly 1 in 10.
What makes this especially striking: almost half of PSC-positive patients had completely normal liver blood tests at diagnosis, meaning standard biochemistry alone would have missed them. PSC was also linked to more severe IBD outcomes, including higher rates of hospitalization and need for biologic therapy.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: PSC is a serious, potentially life-threatening liver condition that can go undetected in IBD patients relying on blood tests alone. Early detection via MRCP could meaningfully change disease management — but researchers caution that cost-benefit analyses and longer follow-up are needed before routine screening is recommended.
