About Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC):
- It is a rare, long-term disease of the liver caused by inflammation of tubes in the liver called bile ducts.
- These ducts carry bile (a fluid that helps to digest fats) from the liver, where bile is produced, to the gallbladder, where it is stored, and to the small intestine, where it aids in digestion.
- Scarring and narrowing of bile ducts leads to liver damage.
- Over time, the liver loses its ability to filter blood and support digestion.
- People with PSC are at higher risk of liver failure and cancers of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and colon.
- Causes: It’s not entirely clear what causes PSC, but it appears to involve a combination of factors, including:
- Genetics
- Immune system problems
- Changes to the bacteria in your gut microbiome
- Environmental factors
- Symptoms:
- Itchy skin.
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
- Belly pain.
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice.
- Chills and fever from infection of bile ducts.
- Treatment:
- Care focuses on monitoring liver health and managing symptoms.
- Procedures can temporarily open blocked ducts, but liver transplant is the only cure for advanced disease.
