Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis And How It Affects Your Liver

6. When To Seek Help

Seeking treatment is difficult as many symptoms do not appear for years. Talk to a doctor if there is unexplained general itching all over the body that persists no matter how much scratching or treatment is done. Feeling extremely fatigued all the time is another good reason to seek help. People who have already been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may want to talk with their doctor about primary sclerosing cholangitis to monitor liver health over the years, especially if unusual or increased symptoms develop.

5. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Versus Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis are similar conditions that cause severe liver damage and can be hard to differentiate. According to a study published in the journal Gastroenterology, “destructive cholangitis occurs in both diseases and leads to similar clinical and biochemical abnormalities.” The study showed that primary biliary cirrhosis mostly occurred in middle-aged women who were hyperpigmented and had keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) while primary sclerosing cholangitis occurs in young men who experienced symptoms of fatigue and frequently had chronic ulcerative colitis.