Alcohol Alcoholic Liver Disease results from excessive alcohol intake. This is more than 14 units per week. In the early stages inflamation resulting from the alcohol can resolve itself if the individual abstains. With continued alcohol intake, fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis will result. Susceptibility to severe alcoholic liver disease appears to be somewhat under genetic control and may be made worse by obesity. Transplantation Is now a well accepted form of treatment for end stage liver failure. In recognised centres like ours, it is safe and successful. The chance of being alive and well a year after a liver transplant is in the region of 90% and after 5 years about 80%. There are many indications for liver transplantation but the vast majority of patients will have cirrhosis. Some of the more common reasons to replace a liver are: ! PBC ! Viral Hepatitis ! Cirrhosis of an unknown cause ! PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) ! Alcohol (provided patients have been abstinent and
on a rehabilitation programme for at least 6 months) ! Biliary Atresia (a childhood condition in which
children are born without bile ducts)
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LIVER DISEASE
Take time to talk about organ donation Many people don’t realise that their family’s support is needed for organ donation to go ahead.
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Liver Disease
LIVERNORTH is a national liver patient support charity and has provided this leaflet free of charge We have no paid employees. Patron: George Maguire President: Professor OFW James MA BM BCh FRCP FAMSci, Chairman: JE Bedlington MBE MSc MIFE MIoL Medical Advisory Committee: Professor Quentin M Anstee BSc(Hons) MBBS PhD MRCP(UK) FRCP, Professor David Jones OBE MA BM BCh PhD FRCP, Professor Derek Manas FRCS BSc MBBCh Mmed (UCT) FRCSEd FCS (SA), Dr Anand V Reddy MD, FRCP, Professor Fiona Oakley PhD BSc, Professor Helen Reeves BM BS BMedSci FRCP PhD, Mr Colin Wilson MBBS FRCS PhD
Note: This leaflet is a brief guide to liver disease in general and is not intended to cover all liver diseases (as there are over 100). For more information on a specific liver disease please refer to our website or capture the QR code on the back cover of this leaflet. Some of the information contained in this leaflet may also appear elsewhere. Acknowledgement: We are very grateful to: Professor DM Manas FRCS, BSc MBBCh Mmed (UCT) FRCSEd FCS (SA), for writing this LIVErNORTH leaflet and to: Professor Stuart McPherson BSc MB ChB MRCP MD FRCP, for providing the update on current Hepatitis C medication.
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This leaflet is for information only. Professional, medical or other advice should be obtained before acting on anything contained in this leaflet. LIVERNORTH can accept no responsibility as a result of action taken or not taken because of the contents. information leaflet 12 Interim Revision, March 2024