Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in Houston, TX

PSC is often identified before any symptoms present while testing for other GI conditions. PSC treatments are more effective when the condition is detected early. The beginning symptoms of PSC might include itching and fatigue. Further general signs and symptoms of PSC include:

• Joint pain
• Upper right abdominal pain
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Fragile bones
• Unintentional weight loss
• High levels of cholesterol
• Chills
• Darkening of the skin not associated with being in the sun
• Night sweats
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)
• Dryness of the mouth
• Dry eyes
• Dark-colored and greasy stools
• Soreness in the muscles

You should request an appointment with a Gastroenterology Consultants provider should you have extreme itching on a significant portion of your body, or if you feel fatigued more often than not. It is particularly important to bring these symptoms up to your provider if you have a type of inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Medical providers have not identified a permanent remedy for primary sclerosing cholangitis. The majority of the treatment options include treating the narrowing of the bile ducts along with the complications and symptoms associated with the condition. Our Houston, TX gastroenterology specialists may recommend one or more of the options listed here to treat PSC:

• Exercise
• Avoid alcohol
• Antibiotics to treat infections
• Nutrition support therapy
• Stent placement to address narrowed or blocked bile ducts
• Alleviate itching with topical creams
• Remain at a healthy weight
• Surgical procedure to temporarily open bile ducts that are blocked
• Liver transplant procedure
• Balloon dilation procedure to expand constricted bile ducts