CURRENT LIVER NEWS
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Keep it off ice: New findings show that livers are best stored at normal body temperature before transplantationA new finding cuts against a decades old practice of storing organs destined for transplantation on ice, as researches and doctors found a host of benefits from storing livers in a preservation fluid close to the normal human body temperature (37°C), also known as a “normothermic” temperature. Some of the advantages of preserving livers at a normothermic temperature when compared to storing on ice include increasing the maximum time a liver can be held from harvest to transplantation, decreasing the damage done to a harvested liver, and increasing the amount of harvested livers available for transplant, as livers harvested from individuals with poor health are more likely to function effectively if they are stored in these normothermic conditions. This new storage technique also benefits transplant surgeons, as they can determine if the liver still has essential functions that will be necessary for a successful transplantation. In total, this new storage technique could represent an advance that would increase both the number of organs available for transplant and the rate of successful transplantation- which is good news for the ever-increasing number of patients that are waiting for a life-saving transplant. - LA Times, 4/19/2018
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In a shocking new report, the US Center for Disease Control states that mortality for liver cancer has increased by 43% in the last 16 years from 2000 to 2016. Experts have made it clear this increase in mortality is not due to an increased severity of liver cancer, but rather an increase in the total number of cases. Medical doctors have suggested that an increase in obesity levels could be an explanatory cause for this staggering increase in mortality. Another contributing factor could be the "Opioid Epidemic," with the practice of sharing and using contaminated needles leading to an increase in Hepatitis C, a bloodborne virus that can increase the risks of developing liver cancer in those affected by this disease. Additionally, blood used in hospitals prior to 1992 was not screened for Hepatitis C, which means that baby boomers (born in 1945-1965) are at a high risk for Hepatitis C infection and subsequently liver cancer. Lifestyle changes could certainly help to reduce risk factors for liver cancer but challenges with compliance and education abound. - CNN, 7/17/18
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With obesity rates rising, experts predict that rates of NAFLD will follow a similar trend. NAFLD was once a little-known condition but a new study predicts that the real cost of NAFLD is roughly 32 billion dollars annually- which is similar to the cost of all strokes annually at 34 billion dollars per year. The bulk of these costs are the result of hospitalization, emergency department visits, and organ transplant procedures that are oftentimes necessary for those suffering from a more severe form (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH) of NAFLD. Medical doctors and scientists fear that NAFLD could rise to epidemic proportions if not addressed by new diagnostic improvements and awareness. - ScienceDaily, 7/3/2018
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States nationwide such as California, Indiana, and Kentucky are experiencing outbreaks of Hepatitis A . This disease is spread by Hepatitis A (HAV), which is a viral pathogen. HAV enters the body through the oral-fecal route and resides in the liver where it can replicate to produce more viruses. Symptoms of HAV infection are often mild and usually resolve within eight weeks; however, more severe complications such as acute liver failure may rarely occur in the elderly or those who already suffer from liver disease. Within the general population, HAV infection is rare - homeless and intravenous (IV) drug users are most at risk. The CDC currently recommends HAV vaccinations for members of these at-risk populations, although it remains unclear how accessible vaccination and medical care are for them. - CNN, 6/1/18
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As the result of a rare genetic mutation, twin brothers Devin and Nicholas Coats were diagnosed with stage 4 liver disease. The severe scarring of liver tissue, also as cirrhosis of the liver, is a disease more commonly seen in patients who have suffered from life long alcoholism. The liver failure that results from this scarring is a life-threatening condition. In order to receive transplants, both twins were placed on the liver transplant list where they would remain while their condition deteriorated. Tragically, while waiting on the transplant list, Nicholas developed a cancer that would prove to be fatal. Questions remain as to whether he would have developed this cancer if he was able to quickly receive an organ transplant. - The Washington Post, 3/21/18
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Food insecurity, or the lack of a reliable source of healthy, whole foods, may be a greater predictor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and associated fibrosis than any other demographic or socioeconomic factor. A new cross-sectional study suggests those who are already suffering from NAFLD are three times more likely to develop advanced fibrosis as a result of the aforementioned food insecurity which prevents them from maintaining a healthy diet. - Medscape, 4/17/18
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Food insecurity, or the lack of a reliable source of healthy, whole foods, may be a greater predictor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and associated fibrosis than any other demographic or socioeconomic factor. A new cross-sectional study suggests those who are already suffering from NAFLD are three times more likely to develop advanced fibrosis as a result of the aforementioned food insecurity which prevents them from maintaining a healthy diet. - Medscape, 4/17/18
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Page maintained by Jonika Weerasekare UCLA B.S. MIMG '17