Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) Latest News

A new monoclonal antibody treatment has shown promising results for a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

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: 
  • Symptoms of PSC develop slowly. You may have PSC for many years without any symptoms. 
  • After symptoms develop, they may come and go. But they often get worse over time. 
  • Bile that backs up into your liver may over time cause a type of liver scarring known as cirrhosis. This leads to liver failure. 
  • Symptoms of PSC include:
    • Itchy skin.
    • Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
    • Belly pain.
    • Yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice.
    • Chills and fever from infection of your 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.
  • Median survival from the time of diagnosis to death without liver transplantation is around 10 years.

Source: NDTV

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