FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In this health report we turn our focus to a condition called Cholangitis which is an inflammation of the bile duct system.
There are different forms of the disease that, although rare, can have deadly consequences.
To see him on a treadmill today, it’s hard to imagine that there was a point when Ken Hollander could barely walk.
His body was being ravaged by a disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis or PSC.
“About a year ago I started getting severe fatigue. At first you think ‘Well, I’m getting older, more tired,’ but the fatigue got so severe that even to get up to go to the bathroom I had to think about it,” Hollander said.
Cleveland Clinic Weston Hepatologist Dr. Bobby Zervos said PSC is similar to another form of the disease, Primary Biliary Cholangitis, or PBC.
“Cholangitis refers to an inflammatory cascade happening within the bile ducts that then predispose individuals to having infection,” he said.
In both PSC and PBC, Zervos said a component of the immune system is attacking the bile ducts.
Over time that causes accumulation of bile in the liver, leading to debilitating symptoms.
“They suffer from intractable itching that leads to severe episodes of scratching, what we refer to as pruritis, that affects quality of life and ability to function. So, when you do get to those extreme stages, there’s limited interventions, limited medications that are available. There’s a lot of clinical trials but ultimately those individuals benefit from organ transplantation, specifically transplant of the liver,” Zervos said.
After undergoing a liver transplant last year, Hollander now follows a regimen of multiple medications and dietary restrictions.
It’s not easy, but he’s glad to be able to enjoy the things he loves.
“I’m grateful to be alive. I’m overwhelmed by what somebody did for me, you know, gave me the gift of life, it’s just overwhelming, and I want to do what I can to help other people,” he said.
For more information on Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC):
PSC Partners Seeking a Cure go to: https://pscpartners.org/
For more information on Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBS): PBCers Organization go to: https://pbcers.org/