Single Center Experience of Oral Vancomycin Therapy in Young Patients with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Case Series

Abstract

There is no single proven therapy that prolongs hepatic transplant-free survival in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Oral vancomycin (OV) has shown some benefit in small pediatric and adult series. We describe the effect of OV on pediatric onset PSC at our tertiary hospital. This is a single-center, retrospective, descriptive case series involving patients (<21 years at diagnosis) with PSC on OV from 2001 till 2021. The therapy effect was assessed based on symptoms, biochemical labs, imaging and liver biopsy at six and twelve months, and then annually until therapy was discontinued. The inclusion criteria identified 17 patients. Baseline GGT (n = 17) was elevated among 88.2% which then normalized among 53.8% (n = 13) at six months and 55.6% (n = 9) at one year post-OV. Baseline ALT normalized in 58.8% (n = 17) at six months and 42.8% (n = 14) at one year. Imaging findings within one year of OV revealed improved/stable biliary findings among 66.7% (n = 8/12). No adverse events were reported. OV was associated with an improvement in bile duct injury marker (GGT) after at least six months of therapy, with no disease progression on imaging within one year of therapy.