Facts On Liver Disease
Two million Australians are, or have been, affected by liver, bile duct
or gall bladder disease;
More than 2,000 Australians die each year from chronic liver diseases,
cirrhosis and cancers of the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts;
• Many, forms of liver disease are preventable and many more, if detected early, can be treated effectively;
• Fatty liver, an obesity-related chronic liver condition, may affect many of the 30% of adults in Australia who are overweight;
• Liver cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer worldwide;
• Hepatitis B and C significantly increase the risk of liver cancer;
Almost 3,000 Australian adults and children have undergone successful
liver transplantation and require ongoing care to optimise their level of
anti-rejection
drugs and reduce the likelihood of recurrent liver diseases;
Haemochromatosis, a liver disease causing iron overload, is the
most common inherited disorder in Australians of European origin
and if
detected early
and treated, complications including cirrhosis can be prevented;
Liver Disease is a major complication in children and young adults with
Cystic Fibrosis, which is the second commonest genetic disease in peoples
of European descent. Liver disease associated with Cystic Fibrosis
leads to early death or liver transplantation;
Between 15 and 20 Australian children each year are born with
Biliary Atresia, an aggressive liver disease responsible
for 60% of all
paediatric liver
transplants: better understanding of cause and mechanisms
of disease progression may prevent
the need for liver transplantation in these children.