Chronic liver disease prevention strategies and liver transplantation.
Chronic liver disease is a considerable burden on society, being one of the three main causes of death in certain regions of Africa and Asia. Liver transplant is the only treatment option for cirrhosis, which is the end stage of many chronic liver diseases. This article reviews the preventable causes of cirrhosis and the preventive strategies which could be implemented in order to avoid the catastrophic consequences of cirrhosis. With small variations around the world, 70 to 80% of the end stage liver diseases are caused by excessive alcohol consumption and by viral hepatitis, both of which are potentially preventable. Excessive alcohol consumption has important public health consequences because of its involvement not only with cirrhosis, but also with motor vehicle accidents, unemployment, domestic violence etc. Among the viral causes, Hepatitis Virus B and C have the greatest impact on public health. Effective vaccine is available for Hepatitis Virus B and must be put in use. While a vaccine for Hepatitis Virus C is awaited, effective preventive strategies should be undertaken to avoid the preventable cases of end stage liver disease.
Silva
Anderson Soares da
AS
Department of Social Medicine, FMRP, USP, Brazil.
Santos
Luciane Loures dos
LL
Passos
Afonso Dinis Costa
AD
Sankarankutty
Ajith Kumar
AK
Martinelli
Ana de Lourdes Candolo
Ade L
Silva
Orlando de Castro e
Ode C
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines