title: Nutrition support for individuals with liver failure.
abstract: The prevalence of liver diseases is increasing in the United States, particularly as a result of the recent hepatitis C epidemic. In the past, patients who developed fulminant hepatic failure or cirrhosis owing to a chronic liver disease were likely to expire. During the last 15-20 years, liver transplantation has given these patients a chance at survival. Progressive nutrition deficiencies and muscle wasting are universal problems in these patients. Left untreated, the progressive wasting of liver disease leads to infection and an increased risk of death owing to infection both before and after transplantation. Aggressive nutritional support is essential to optimize the care of these patients and to enable them to obtain and survive a liver transplant and gain access to a new life following a successful liver engraftment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mobarhan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadir
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Van Thiel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagerty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support