Which statement correctly contrasts primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement correctly contrasts primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis?

The main idea is how to tell PBC from PSC by what each disease really is, what tests or findings distinguish them, and how they’re treated. Primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune cholestatic disease that targets small intrahepatic bile ducts, and it classically shows antimitochondrial antibodies. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic biliary disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic ducts; it is strongly linked with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, and on imaging it produces a beaded appearance from multifocal strictures and dilatations. Ursodeoxycholic acid is used in the management of both conditions, though its benefit in PSC is limited and high-dose UDCA is not preferred due to safety concerns. So this contrast aligns with the facts: PBC = autoimmune cholestasis with AMA; PSC = IBD association with beading on cholangiography; UDCA used in both. Other choices mix up the disease identities or omit key associations and imaging features, which is why they’re not correct.

The main idea is how to tell PBC from PSC by what each disease really is, what tests or findings distinguish them, and how they’re treated. Primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune cholestatic disease that targets small intrahepatic bile ducts, and it classically shows antimitochondrial antibodies. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic biliary disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic ducts; it is strongly linked with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, and on imaging it produces a beaded appearance from multifocal strictures and dilatations. Ursodeoxycholic acid is used in the management of both conditions, though its benefit in PSC is limited and high-dose UDCA is not preferred due to safety concerns.

So this contrast aligns with the facts: PBC = autoimmune cholestasis with AMA; PSC = IBD association with beading on cholangiography; UDCA used in both. Other choices mix up the disease identities or omit key associations and imaging features, which is why they’re not correct.

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