What are the complications of PSC?
The complications associated with PSC are recurrent cholangitis and bacteremia and cholangiocarcinoma. What is recurrent cholangitis and how is it treated? Recurrent cholangitis refers to repeated episodes of bacterial infection of the bile. Patients with PSC are predisposed to this condition because high grade strictures cause obstruction to bile flow facilitating bacterial growth. Treatment of this condition is by the use of antibiotics and relief of the biliary obstruction. Why do strictures form and how are they treated? Whatever the mechanism of PSC, it results in inflammation of the bile ducts which leads to fibrosis (scar tissue) resulting in strictures. The strictures can lead to elevations in bilrubin levels, recurrent cholangitis, or pruritus. To relieve the obstruction, balloon dilation of the ducts may be performed. Dilation may be performed by endoscopy or by a percutaneous transhepatic route. A plastic stent may be inserted into the duct to keep it patent. Surgery may als
