Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is an autoimmune disease of the liver and is chronic in nature where the body immune system starts attacking the bile ducts. These long-term effects are inflammation and scarring of these ducts, as a result of which the liver will no longer be able to empty bile into the intestines. This type of insidious destruction can result in cholestasis, cirrhosis and in severe cases, the liver may end up being a failure. In most cases, PSC is infective of more hepatic and extra hepatic biliary ducts and is usually linked with ulcerative colitis.
PSC is also not a disease that usually progresses fast and untrained problems are never realized until the disease is at its late stage. They may encompass in case of any symptoms:
It remains somewhat unclear what the etiology of PSC is, and, despite this, there are rather numerous variables which seem to affect it in an augmentative manner:
In case you believe that you have Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis or you require expert treatment of your PSC, then make a Call, today and make an appointment with our team, in Houston, at GastroDoxs. We offer patient-centered care, high-level diagnostics, and individual approach to treatment so that you could cope with the symptoms, slack the disease, and improve the quality of life.
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No. Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is closely linked with the small bile ducts and females are most likely to get infected by the illness. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is the disease that is usually characterized by the enlargement of bile ducts and it is more common in men.
Liver blood test, MRCP ( Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography ) and endoscopic inspection of the bile ducts ( ERCP ) are the most commonly used techniques of the PSC diagnosis to exclude the other causes and to prove the presence of the scarring.
The major risk factors are ulcerative colitis, or some other types of inflammatory bowel disease, some genetic predispositions and the existence of some autoantibodies (like pANCA) that indicate the damage that is caused to the bile ducts by the immune forces.
Yes. PSC puts the risk of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) at high risk and finally, there may be a high likelihood that the predisposition to hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) may be increased in a state of terminal illness.
Although there is no cure, it is sluggish and treatment administered on the symptoms. They can be treated with the help of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), to enhance liver tests, dilation of bile ducts performed by endoscopy, antibiotics to treat infections and finally, liver transplant in case the disease is in the end-stage.
PANCA (perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic anti-nuclear antibody) test is used to aid the process of diagnosis of PSC because it detects the presence of auto-antibodies which are regarded to be typical of PSC patients, as well as distinguishing PSC and other types of cholestatic liver diseases.
The test will be offered to identify the PSC or any other liver disease by having an examination in case of the constant fatigue, unexplainable jaundice, itchiness, pain in the right upper part of the abdomen or an abnormal liver functions test.
This should be followed by regularity, i.e. 3-6 months, consecutively, place blood tests and imaging thereafter. It is also recommended that colonoscopy be done in the event of ulcerative colitis after every one year to determine the colonic complications.
To prevent liver disease, the following measures should be undertaken: alcohol should not be used, diet must be undertaken in small amounts of saturated fats, physical activities, healthy weight, and immunized against (hepatitis A and B, flu, and pneumonia).
At the present, PSC has no cure. Nevertheless, with a timely intervention (by diagnosing them early, regularly checking and taking appropriate medications up to the point of liver transplantation in worst-case scenarios) most of the patients will learn how to cope with the symptoms and live normally.
