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Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease causing bile duct inflammation and scarring, often linked to ulcerative colitis. In Houston, Dr. Nghia Nguyen at GastroDoxs provides expert diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and compassionate care to optimize liver health.
Dr. Nghia Nguyen, DO, is a board-certified gastroenterologist providing advanced digestive care in the Greater Houston area. He earned his medical degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed both his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Nguyen specializes in treating conditions such as acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and liver disorders.
Dark-colored urine and pale or clay-colored stools
Discomfort or pain in the upper right abdomen
Unintentional weight loss
How Dr. Nghia Nguyen Diagnoses This Condition?
Step 1: Medical History and Physical Exam
Dr. Nguyen reviews your symptoms—epigastric pain, fatigue, pruritus, jaundice—and asks about ulcerative colitis or other inflammatory bowel disease.
Step 2: Blood Tests
He orders liver function tests (alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST, bilirubin) and screens for autoimmune markers such as p-ANCA to help distinguish PSC from other liver disorders.
Step 3: Imaging Studies
MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) to noninvasively visualize bile duct strictures and dilations.
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) when therapeutic intervention or duct sampling is required.
Step 4: Advanced Testing (if needed)
In select cases, a liver biopsy confirms biliary fibrosis or rules out overlap syndromes when imaging and labs are inconclusive.
Treatment
Our Team offers a full range of care for primary sclerosing cholangitis.
1. Lifestyle and Diet Modifications
Balanced diet rich in whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables
Avoid alcohol, greasy foods, and limit over-the-counter medications that can harm the liver
At least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days to support liver health
2. Medications
Ursodeoxycholic acid to improve bile flow
Cholestyramine or rifampin for relief of chronic itching
Fat-soluble vitamin supplementation (A, D, E, and K) if absorption is impaired
Immune-suppressing medications in selected cases
3. Minimally Invasive or Advanced Procedures
ERCP with dilation or stent placement to relieve bile duct strictures
Antibiotic therapy for recurrent cholangitis
Referral for liver transplant evaluation in advanced or refractory cases
Dr. Nghia Nguyen, DO, is a board-certified gastroenterologist providing advanced digestive care in the Greater Houston area. He earned his medical degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed both his Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Nguyen specializes in treating conditions such as acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and liver disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes PSC?
The exact cause is unknown, but PSC is linked to immune system attacks on bile ducts and often occurs with ulcerative colitis. Genetics may also play a role.
How is PSC diagnosed?
Diagnosis relies on blood tests showing elevated liver enzymes, imaging like MRCP to visualize bile ducts, and sometimes ERCP or a liver biopsy to confirm.
Can diet slow down PSC?
While diet cannot stop PSC, a balanced diet rich in whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables helps support liver health and may reduce symptom severity.
Is there a PSC antibody test?
There is no single antibody specific to PSC. Some patients test positive for p-ANCA, but this marker is not definitive for diagnosis.
What treatment options are available in Houston?
Treatment may include ursodeoxycholic acid to improve bile flow, medications for itching, endoscopic procedures (ERCP) to open blocked ducts, and evaluation for liver transplant if needed.
Is PSC curable?
There is currently no cure for PSC. Management focuses on symptom control, protecting liver function, and monitoring for complications. Liver transplant is an option for advanced disease.
