Scientific Research
This page is in a'blog' format with the latest scientific PSC research identified by Google Scholar, Readbyqmx.com and other sources added regularly.

Epidemiology and outcomes of primary sclerosing cholangitis with and without inflammatory bowel disease in an Australian cohort

12/3/2016

AbstractBackground&AimsEpidemiological data on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) outside the Northern hemisphere is limited. Similarly, the impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on PSC outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to study the epidemiology and outcomes of PSC patients with and without IBD in an Australian cohort.
MethodsWe retrospectively studied PSC patients attending two tertiary referral hospitals over 20years ... please click here to read the remainder of the abstract.

Ken Liu, Ruoxi Wang, Viraj Kariyawasam, Mark Wells,Simone I Strasser, Geoff McCaughan, Crispin Corte, Rupert W Leong, Liver International, doi: 10.1111/liv.13328

Environmental Risk Factors of Pediatric-Onset Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Autoimmune Hepatitis.

9/5/2016

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this population-based observational case-control questionnaire study was to investigate the possible role of environmental risk factors associated with pediatric-onset autoimmune liver diseases.
METHODS: Seventy-one patients with autoimmune liver diseases (<16 years) received a questionnaire with 22 items, evaluating contact with environmental factors (eg, family manners, type of housing, pets) before the diagnosis. Two age- and sex-matched control groups were used: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; n = 91) and healthy subjects (n = 716; matched also for place of residence at birth . . . Please click here to read the remainder of the abstract.

Tenca A, et al.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016.

A Review of the Challenges Associated with the Diagnosis and Therapy of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

9/4/2016

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic and progressive cholestatic liver disease that often leads to the development of cirrhosis. Complications of PSC include pruritus, fatigue, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic bone disease, dominant biliary strictures, gallstones, and hepatobiliary malignancies, most commonly cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Despite the presumed autoimmune etiology of PSC, a clear benefit from immunosuppressive agents has not yet been established, and their use is limited by their side effects. Endoscopy is required in evaluation of biliary strictures in PSC to rule out the possibility of CCA ... The full text of this article is available by clicking here.

Mohammed Saadi, Christine Yu, and Mohamed O. Othman
J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2014 Mar; 2(1): 45–52.
Published online 2014 Mar 15. doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2013.00021

Clinical course and prognosis of pediatric-onset primary sclerosing cholangitis

9/4/2016

Abstract:
Background: The natural history of pediatric-onset primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and overlap with autoimmune hepatitis (PSC/AIH) is poorly known.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with pediatric-onset disease in a tertiary referral center.
Methods: We traced 33 patients (median age at diagnosis 16 years), with PSC or PSC/AIH in cholangiography and liver histology diagnosed between December 1993 and 2011, at Helsinki University Hospital. Diagnostic procedures and long-term follow-up were reassessed until the end of December 2013.
Results: PSC was confirmed in all 33 patients; 19 of them had an overlap with AIH. At diagnosis, three of 33 had cirrhosis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was associated in 76% of the patients, mostly ulcerative colitis (70%); treatment of IBD being a minor determinant of the clinical outcome of liver disease ... please click here for the remainder of the article which is freely available..

Andrea Tenca, Martti Fa ̈rkkila ̈, Johanna Arola, Tytti Jaakkola, Roberto Penagini and Kaija-Leena Kolho
United European Gastroenterology JournalDOI: 10.1177/2050640615616012

Applicability and prognostic value of histologic scoring systems in primary sclerosing cholangitis

9/4/2016

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease. At present, there is no appropriate histologic scoring system available for PSC, evaluating both degree of necroinflammatory activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage). The aim of this study was to assess if three scoring systems, commonly used in different liver diseases could be applied for grading and/or staging of PSC.

The remainder of the abstract can be found at this link.

Elisabeth M G de Vries, Joanne Verheij, Stefan G Hubscher, Mariska M G Leeflang, Kirsten Boonstra, Ulrich Beuers, Cyriel Y Ponsoen, Journal of Hepatology 2015, 63 (5): 1212-9

Variation in Microbiome Composition and Stability for a Vancomycin Treated Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Compared with Controls

12/16/2015

Abstract

The bacterial composition of the human intestines contributes to much more than just digestion. In the inflammatory autoimmune conditions primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the microbiome may be, in some cases, a factor. To gain a better understanding of the composition and stability of the microbiome in a patient treated with vancomycin for PSC ... Please click here to read the full research article

Dubrovsky, Alanna (2015) "Variation in Microbiome Composition and Stability for a Vancomycin Treated Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Compared with Controls," Symposium: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: h p://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/symposium/vol2/iss1/6

Pathogenesis and Management of Pruritus in PBC and PSC

12/16/2015

Andreas E Kremer, Barbara Namer, Ruth Bolier, Michael J Fischer, Ronald P Oude Elferink, Ulrich Beuers

Pruritus is a preeminent symptom in patients with chronic cholestatic liver disorders such as primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. More than two-thirds of these patients experience itching during the course of their disease. This symptom is also frequently observed in patients with other causes of cholestasis such as cholangiocarcinoma, inherited forms of cholestasis and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, but may accompany almost any other liver disease. The pathogenesis of pruritus of cholestasis remains largely elusive ... please click here to read the remainder of the abstract

Digestive Diseases 2015, 33 Suppl 2: 164-75

Precision of App-Based Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score Calculators

12/16/2015

Dr Simon Hews MBBS, Dr Perri Chambers MBBS

Background:
The prioritisation of patients with end-stage liver disease for liver transplantation requires a quantification of clinical disease severity. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is used to prognosticate survival for these patients and is therefore useful to prioritise for transplantation. The MELD score utilises a complex equation, which is now available for calculation using a range of smartphone applications (‘apps’). There is however no published data on the precision of these app-based calculators in calculating a MELD score. ... please click here to download the full article

Journal MTM 1:4:11-15, 2012

Applicability and prognostic value of histologic scoring systems in primary sclerosing cholangitis

12/16/2015

Elisabeth M G de Vries, Joanne Verheij, Stefan G Hubscher, Mariska M G Leeflang, Kirsten Boonstra, Ulrich Beuers, Cyriel Y Ponsioen

This study looks at three staging systems that may be useful to act as surrogate endpoints in PSC.

BACKGROUND & AIMS:
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease. At present, there is no appropriate histologic scoring system available for PSC, evaluating both degree of necroinflammatory activity (grade) and fibrosis (stage). The aim of this study was to assess if three scoring systems, commonly used in different liver diseases could be applied for grading and/or staging of PSC.
METHODS:
Sixty-four PSC patients from a Dutch cohort, who underwent diagnostic liver biopsy, were included. Staging was scored using Ishak, Nakanuma, and Ludwig systems. Grading was scored using Ishak and Nakanuma systems. ... Please click here to read the remainder of the abstract.

Journal of Hepatology 2015, 63 (5): 1212-9

Variation in Microbiome Composition and Stability for a Vancomycin Treated Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Compared with Controls

11/29/2015

Abstract

The bacterial composition of the human intestines contributes to much more than just digestion. In the in- ammatory autoimmune conditions primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the microbiome may be, in some cases, a factor. To gain a better understanding of the composition and stability of the microbiome in a patient treated with vancomycin for PSC, terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis was performed on 13 controls and 1 patient, and 16s rRNA microbiome composition analyses were performed on 1 patient and 3 controls. Results showed similar levels of stability with surprising di erences in composition. Please click here to read the full text of the article

Dubrovsky, Alanna (2015) Symposium: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 6.
DOI: 10.15368/symp.2015v2n1.2
Available at: h p://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/symposium/vol2/iss1/6