Liver failure is a big thing, but thankfully we have a drug for curing HepC now, which uncured causes liver damage.
Liver regeneration is also fantastically interesting. If only we could figure out how to trigger that regeneration when the liver is too damaged.
I'm reminded of Star Trek 4, where McCoy gives an old woman what looks like a candy, then you see her later on talking about how she grew a new kidney.
The HepC drugs are remarkable. They also open new opportunities for transplanting HepC positive livers into HepC positive patients (expanding the donor pool), then zapping it post transplant.
But while HepC may be one of the first viral infections we can cure, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise, even in young people. And this population is on average less motivated to make lifestyle changes that can stop or slow the disease.
> And this population is on average less motivated to make lifestyle changes that can stop or slow the disease.
Hmmm, how do you mean? We've seen a lot of people try to change their diets and lifestyle to be more healthy. Anecdotally, all my coworkers are very diligent, or at least mindful, about eating healthy (of course they splurge when going out, but on a daily basis they try and stick to healthy food). Granted most of my coworkers are younger millennials, but I think a fitness/healthy eating lifestyle has permeated US society.
Let me try and be more precise. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is strongly correlated with obesity. Obesity is a public health problem that is getting worse, not better. It is tied to diet and lifestyle that cannot quickly be corrected, even among highly motivated individuals.
Compound that with the fact that fatty liver disease (or any liver disease) will probably not be detected before symptoms emerge that indicate actual damage to the liver has occurred. It's impossible to quickly become un-obese, even for the motivated patient. This puts these patients at risk for advancing liver disease.
Contrast that with HepC. It can be detected before overt symptoms of liver disease sets in. It can be cured in as little as eight weeks. The cure itself doesn't require any lifestyle change (though IV drug users need to prevent re-infection, and insurance companies in the US won't give you a second chance). And the cure has been shown to allow the liver to heal.
Good point. Just wondering: is there any way I can proactively check for liver health to make sure its healthy? It seems like a ridiculously important organ to not have checked at some regularity.
Liver regeneration is also fantastically interesting. If only we could figure out how to trigger that regeneration when the liver is too damaged.
I'm reminded of Star Trek 4, where McCoy gives an old woman what looks like a candy, then you see her later on talking about how she grew a new kidney.