Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in Baton Rouge, LA

PSC is most commonly diagnosed before signs or symptoms appear while performing tests for other issues. Treating primary sclerosing cholangitis is more successful when the condition is detected earlier. The beginning symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis often involve itching and fatigue. Other general symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis are:

• Dryness of the mouth
• Upper right abdominal pain
• Frail bones
• Unplanned weight loss
• Chills
• Joint pain
• Dry eyes
• Heavy sweating during sleep
• High levels of cholesterol
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Dark skin not related to being in the sun
• Dark-colored and greasy bowel movements
• Muscle soreness
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)

It's important to request a consultation with one of our Baton Rouge, LA GI specialists in the event you notice extreme itching on a significant portion of your body or if you feel excessively tired compared to normal. It is particularly important to discuss these symptoms with your provider if you have a type of inflammatory bowel disease IBD, like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Medical professionals have not uncovered a cure for PSC. Many of the treatment strategies involve treating the narrowed bile ducts as well as the symptoms and complications that accompany the condition. Our Baton Rouge, LA gastroenterology providers may advise one or more of the following options to treat primary sclerosing cholangitis:

• Exercise
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Stents to address narrowed or obstructed bile ducts
• Avoid consuming alcohol
• Antibiotics to treat infections
• Nutrition support
• Alleviate itching with topical creams
• Balloon dilation procedure to expand constricted bile ducts
• Liver transplant surgery
• Surgical procedure to temporarily open bile ducts that are blocked