Progress on the Israel PSC Support front

[Guest guest]

Ellen and I were at another conference of the Israel Association for

the Study of the Liver today. This one was titled Cholestatic Liver

Disorders, so it was right in our field of interest. We were

supposed to hand out the hebrew translation of the PSC support

brochure and try to get the assembled hepatologists and

gastroenterologists interested in our cause. Ellen dealt with that

stuff most off the time and I went to the lectures instead.

As is to be expected most of the lectures went straight over my

head, but I am happy I could be there. I learned a lot, and I also

learned that there still is a lot to learn....

The guest speaker was Prof. Gershwin from UC , he spoke about

PBC.

An interesting tidbit is that the subject of MRCP in Israel is still

not largely implemented. Why? Apperently for a good picture of the

biliary tree a certain contrast is needed that contains a lot of

iron. This contrast is not yet approved by the Israeli FDA, and thus

they use..... blue berry juice (which has a high iron content).

During the panel discussions there was a hefty discussion about

whether ERCP should be used as a diagnostic tool, or only as a

therapy. THe consensus was that ERCP should be avoided as much as

possible for PSC patients due to the dangers of infections. ERCP

should only be used for dillatation and brushings. There also was a

case study about a PSC patient and the panel discussion was about

whether or not he should be listed for a transplant.

As I said, it was a great conference, even though problably 75% of

the material went straight over my head. It makes me even more

determined to go to Florida next May and go to a three day

conference about PSC only, and in the process meet other PSC

patients.

Since the slidehows were in english and the presentations in hebrew,

Ellen tried to get the presentations to share with you guys.

Unfortunately, the representative of the IsASL told us that it was

once decided that presentations were not to be copied. I don't know

why. We tried though.

In the mean time the Israeli Hepatitis Association has agreed to

accept the PSC support group in Israel as one of their branches. It

gives us some clout and a place to turn to if we need anything. If

we get big enough we can always decide to go seperate ways.

Sorry for the length of the post....

Ellen and Chaim Boermeester, Israel.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ellen and Chaim,

Your conference sounded great. Thanks for all the work you’re

doing spreading the word about PSC in Israel. That’s great that you’re joining

forces with the Israeli Hepatitis Association. Hopefully, we’ll be able to

meet both of you at our conference in ville May 2-4, 2008. You will

really enjoy meeting all of us PSCers and caregivers!

Ricky

PSC 2003

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of e_boermeester

Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 9:07 AM

To:

Subject: Progress on the Israel PSC Support front

Ellen and I were at another conference of the

Israel Association for

the Study of the Liver today. This one was titled Cholestatic Liver

Disorders, so it was right in our field of interest. Sorry for the length of

the post....

Ellen and Chaim Boermeester, Israel.