By writer to www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com
DEAR DR. ROACH: My son is 62 years previous and has cirrhosis of the liver. He doesn’t drink. Years in the past, he had a blood transfusion that turned out to have hepatitis C. He can not get a liver transplant. He has ascites, which must get drained as soon as every week. It is vitally painful.
I heard that somebody appropriate may donate a part of his or her liver. Would this be helpful?
ANSWER: A viral illness that’s unfold in North America principally by way of blood transfusions or the usage of contaminated needles, hepatitis C is among the commonest causes of cirrhosis and end-stage liver illness. Luckily, prior to now few years, extremely efficient remedy for hepatitis C has been developed. Sooner or later, fewer individuals ought to go on to develop cirrhosis on account of hepatitis C.
With very superior cirrhosis, the one healing remedy is a liver transplant. A transplant can come from a deceased donor, but in addition from a residing donor. A number of hundred residing donor transplants are achieved per yr within the U.S. In adult-to-adult transplant, the proper lobe of the liver is donated, with a mortality danger to the donor of about 0.5%. One main benefit to residing donor donation is that it may be achieved normally a lot sooner than ready for a appropriate liver to change into obtainable.
The standards for receiving a residing donor transplant are the identical as they’re for a deceased donor transplant. I don’t know why your son isn’t in a position to get a liver transplant. Extreme liver illness — resembling needing drainage of ascites, a fluid buildup within the stomach indicative of excessive stress and extreme cirrhosis of the liver — is the important thing cause to get it. It might be that he has one other illness that might make surgical procedure too harmful.
That you must discover out from his liver physician why he isn’t thought of a candidate for liver transplant.
Dr. Roach regrets that he’s unable to reply particular person letters, however will incorporate them within the column at any time when potential. Readers could e mail inquiries to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or ship mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
