De Valle et al studied patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis for factors affecting their quality of life. Identification of these factors can help to identify a patient who should be asked about their quality of life. The authors are from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and John Radcliffe Hospital (England).
Patient selection: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who did not receive a liver transplant
Factors associated with a worse physical quality of life:
(1) systemic symptoms such as pruritis
(2) older age (mean 50 +/- 16 years)
Factors associated with worse mental quality of life:
(1) elevated serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase
(2) large-duct PSC
Interestingly the proportion of persons with significant depression, anxiety or fatigue did not differ between patients and controls.
The development of cirrhosis was associated with reduction in both the physical and mental quality of life.
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