Health Conditions
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic condition where the bile ducts become inflamed, scarred, and can get blocked, preventing bile from flowing properly. PSC is a rare condition that affects about 11 people in every 100,000.
Symptoms
Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis can experience:
Fatigue
Itchy skin
Unexpected weight loss
Abdominal pain
Unexplained fever
Jaundice
Weakness
Dark urine
Dizziness
Causes
There is no primary cause of PSC, however, some researchers believe it could be an autoimmune disease. Risk factors for PSC include male gender, family history, and autoimmune disease. Up to 80% of PSC patients have ulcerative colitis. PSC can lead to further complications like cancer of the gallbladder, bile duct, or colon. It is also closely linked to gut dysbiosis.
Treatment
There is no current cure for PSC but there are ways to treat symptoms and keep your bile ducts healthy. Surgical interventions are an option to open bile ducts or complete a liver transplant if disease progression is too severe. In earlier stages of the disease, medication can be prescribed to alleviate symptoms.
Microbiota Therapy Research
Researchers at the University of Minnesota are currently completing a pilot study investigating the safety and efficacy of Microbiota Transplant Therapy in patients with PSC.
Evaluation of an Oral Microbiota-based Therapeutic as a Treatment Option for PSC
Trial Location: University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
Trial Status: Underway
Trial Summary:
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis is a devastating disease in which inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts lead to liver damage. The average life expectancy after diagnosis of PSC is 10-20 years. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are completing a pilot trial with microbiota transplants to test safety in this population and direct the development of future studies.
For more information, visit: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06197308
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