Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of primary sclerosing cholangitis?
Children and adults can have PSC for 20 years or more with no noticeable symptoms. For those who do, symptoms include:
- fatigue (the most common symptom of PSC)
- itchy skin
- unexpected weight loss
- abdominal pain
- unexplained fever
As the condition progresses, a person with PSC may develop symptoms of liver failure, including:
- jaundice
- pain or tenderness in the upper right abdomen
- weakness
- dark urine
- confusion or disorientation
- easy bleeding and bruising
What causes primary sclerosing cholangitis?
Researchers have not determined what causes PSC. It may be an autoimmune disease – a disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissues – though that has not yet been proven.
The following factors may increase a child’s risk for PSC:
- family history
- male gender
- autoimmune disease
Many people with PSC also have ulcerative colitis. PSC raises the risk for cancer of the gallbladder, bile duct or colon.