Say goodbye to liver disease, here’s how!

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From protein production to iron metabolism, liver is an important organ of the body. To keep the organ healthy, Dr Neerav Goyal, head and senior consultant, Apollo Liver Transplant, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit answers your queries.

What are the signs of liver disease? Unless liver damage is fairly severe, diseases of the liver are often silent. The patients with cirrhosis may develop weakening of tissues, jaundice, itching, bleeding from gums and food pipe. Also there may be accumulation of fluids in the abdomen and legs. The decreased metabolism in the liver leads to lack of concentration, drowsiness.

Why is Liver transplant needed? Liver transplant is needed when a person develops a long standing liver failure. It is a life saving procedure. Acute liver failure happens from acute viral infection like Hepatitis A, E and from drug induced liver damage. Chronic liver failure is a slower process, progressing over the years. The common reasons include chronic hepatitis B and C infection and long-standing alcohol abuse. Other diseases include autoimmune hepatitis (body’s own immunity acts against the liver), biliary atresia (non development of bile ducts from birth), Wilson disease Dr Neerav Goyal Head and Senior Consultant

Apollo Liver Transplant, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi

neeravgoyal@rediffmail.com (excessive accumulation of copper in the liver), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH (accumulation of fat and inflammation in the liver).

What’s the progress of a liver disease? At what stage would a transplant be needed? Liver diseases progress through several stages before it reaches the end stage. This may take several years. Once the stage of cirrhosis is reached, it is irreversible and as the cirrhosis advances one reaches the stage where liver transplant becomes imperative. Acute liver failure is a medical emergency in which transplant may be required.

Can hepatitis B and C be cured? Hepatitis B and C are viral diseases, which, if left untreated, can cause the liver to progress towards cirrhosis. Now a days immunisation against hepatitis B is included in the universal immunisation schedule for a new born, which has drastically reduced the prevalence of the disease. Effective antiviral drugs are now available which can help eliminate or keep these viruses under control.

What is the connection between alcohol-related liver diseases and liver transplantation? A lot of people who develop cirrhosis of the liver due to excessive alcohol may avoid liver transplant if they stop drinking alcohol and the liver disease stabilises. For patients with advanced liver disease, liver transplant would be needed.

Dr Neerav Goyal would be conducting OPD in Jaipur on Wednesday, 19th April 2017 , 10:30 am – 3:00 pm At Apollo Spectra Hospital, J-2/37, Mahavir Marg, Opp Jai Club, C-scheme, Jaipur 302001. For Registration: +91 8527516541,+91 8802690540, +91 9810031760 Dr. Goyal would be conducting once a month OPD in Jaipur.