Abstract
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, immune-mediated cholestatic liver
disease that often progresses to secondary biliary cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.
Short of liver transplantation (LT), there is no effective treatment for PSC. PSC
accounts for approximately 5% of total adult LTs in the US and is currently the fifth
most common indication for LT. Patient and graft survival for PSC is among the highest
for all indications for LT. The main factors that impact outcomes after LT for PSC
include biliary strictures, rejection, and recurrence of PSC. Recurrent PSC (rPSC)
develops in 20% of LT recipients within 5 years of LT and is associated with negative
patient and graft survival. LT is a viable option for recipients who develop rPSC
and progress to graft failure.
Keywords
primary sclerosing cholangitis - liver transplantation - recurrence - outcomes
