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Management of PSC
Doctors don’t have curative medical treatment for PSC. Researchers still work to find one. Your doctor will put a management plan that aims to control your symptoms and prevent further complications as possible. Also, your doctor may do some procedures to dilate the narrow or blocked duct. The last choice is liver transplantation.
Symptomatic management
- For itching: The 1st choice to treat itching -of PSC- is the bile acid sequestrants, such as cholestyramine. Also, if you can’t tolerate these drugs, your doctor may resort to antibiotics (like rifampin), antihistamines, and opioid antagonists (like naltrexone).
- For infections: In PSC, the accumulated bile is a suitable medium for infections. Thus, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a period or in repeated courses. Also, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics before any procedure to dilate the bile ducts.
- For vitamin deficiency: In PSC, your body can’t absorb vital fat-soluble vitamins. Thus, your doctor will direct you to eat a healthy diet, and he may recommend supplements.
Procedures to treat the bile ducts block
- ERCP: Through an endoscope, your doctor will run a tube that carries an inflatable balloon at its tip into the blocked duct. Then, he inflates the balloon in the targeted duct. Also, through the endoscope, your doctor may insert a stent in the blocked duct to keep it open.
Liver transplantation
It is the last choice and the only curative one. Your doctor will resort to it when you have severe complications of liver cell failure. It has good outcomes and effects on the quality of life. It is uncommon for PSC to recur after liver transplantation, but the risk of IBD persists after it.
Finally, if you have PSC, your doctor should screen you for IBD and cancers -that you are at risk of-, such as colorectal cancer and gall bladder cancer.
