LIVER FAILURE TREATMENT

A new way of treating liver failure that helps the organ regenerate has been discovered by scientists, a study said today.

:: The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, weighing some 1.8 kgs (4lbs) in men and 1.3 kgs (2.9lbs) in women.

:: It holds approximately 13% of a person’s total blood supply at any given moment.

:: The liver is unique in its ability to regenerate itself, but inflammation caused by alcoholism or viral diseases can suppress this natural regeneration process.

:: When the liver reaches this stage a transplant is usually necessary but researchers in the US tested whether stem cells could be used to treat organ failure instead.

:: Alcohol-induced liver disease accounts for half of all adult liver disease, with about a third caused by viral hepatitis.

:: 6,751 people died in 2004 from liver disease in the UK, according to the British Liver Trust.

:: The Trust says the UK is the only major developed nation showing an upward trend in the number of deaths from liver disease.

:: Up to two million people are suffering from chronic liver disease in the UK, many of whom remain unaware of their illness.

:: In the UK and Ireland 649 liver-only transplants took place between April 2005-2006.

:: Between 2000- 2005, the top three liver diseases for patients who had a transplant were alcoholic cirrhosis, post-hepatitis C cirrhosis and primary biliary cirrhosis.