I've never heard of it ... What is it exactly ?
PSC is a disease of unknown origin (medical types like to say things like "auto-immune response of unknown etiology") that largely occurs in your “common bile duct” (the big tube at the exit hole of the biliary tree), and for some it extends back to other smaller bile ducts located further back inside your liver.
Wikipedia gives a solid run down of it and what it entails : "PSC is characterized by recurrent episodes of cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), with progressive biliary scarring and obstruction."
Then it goes on to say ... "Inflammation damages bile ducts both inside and outside of the liver. The resulting scarring of the bile ducts blocks the flow of bile, causing cholestasis. Bile stasis and back-pressure induces proliferation of epithelial cells and focal destruction of the liver parenchyma, forming bile lakes. Chronic biliary obstruction causes portal tract fibrosis, and ultimately 'biliary cirrhosis' and 'liver failure'."
If we break down the language (I call it 'medical-ese') ...
- 'Primary' : Meaning "of unknown origin".
- 'Sclerosing' : Refers to the scarring and hardening that occurs in-and-around the bile duct tissues.
- 'Cholangitis' : Refers to inflammation of the bile-ducts.
In a nutshell, PSC narrows your bile ducts, destroys your liver cells, hurts like a son-of-a-bitch and will continue to be a nuisance for the rest of your natural life.
Wikipedia gives a solid run down of it and what it entails : "PSC is characterized by recurrent episodes of cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), with progressive biliary scarring and obstruction."
Then it goes on to say ... "Inflammation damages bile ducts both inside and outside of the liver. The resulting scarring of the bile ducts blocks the flow of bile, causing cholestasis. Bile stasis and back-pressure induces proliferation of epithelial cells and focal destruction of the liver parenchyma, forming bile lakes. Chronic biliary obstruction causes portal tract fibrosis, and ultimately 'biliary cirrhosis' and 'liver failure'."
If we break down the language (I call it 'medical-ese') ...
- 'Primary' : Meaning "of unknown origin".
- 'Sclerosing' : Refers to the scarring and hardening that occurs in-and-around the bile duct tissues.
- 'Cholangitis' : Refers to inflammation of the bile-ducts.
In a nutshell, PSC narrows your bile ducts, destroys your liver cells, hurts like a son-of-a-bitch and will continue to be a nuisance for the rest of your natural life.