title: Prevention in liver disease.
abstract: Prevention has become an important component of medical therapy for a variety of diseases. Preventive strategies in liver disease are relatively underdeveloped and have focused mainly on specific complications of chronic liver disease and vaccination for viral hepatitis. Although public health initiatives designed to prevent certain forms of liver disease are in place, they seem to be underutilized and their utility has not been evaluated. The development of a comprehensive approach using public health initiatives in conjunction with strategies by health care providers is important because of the potential for decreasing the human and health care costs associated with hepatic dysfunction. This article reviews the available literature regarding prevention for health care providers, includes a summary of ongoing public health initiatives, and suggests an approach to prevention in liver disease. It is intended to raise awareness and encourage implementation of preventive strategies in hepatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Arguedas
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fallon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D020407:Internet; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000517:prevention & control; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines