Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a deadly condition affecting more than 150 million people worldwide with no treatment available besides transplant.
But now, a team led by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has uncovered key molecular step stones in ALD that may provide targets for drug therapy development. Their work was recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
This groundbreaking research was achieved by combining RNA sequence analysis of patient liver samples with transgenic mouse studies.
But, while medical science is making great strides in combating liver damage, it should be remembered that alcohol abuse is still very much a mental condition.
I, myself have just been diagnosed with acute liver failure. I was alcohol dependent for a while but came off it last September. Haven't touched a drop since. Too many meds to take now, I'm just wondering how long will it take for my liver to start repairing itself
Hi there, firstly congratulations on stopping drinking, that's a major hurdle to over come. You should really need to find out what state your liver is presently in. If its at the fatty liver, or even at the fibrosis stagek then these conditions are reversible. However, once the liver starts to become heavily scared as in Cirrhosis, then its too far gone to be able to fully recover.
This is a bit like if you were to cut your hand it will heal, even if you were to cut it 20 times it would still heal but would begin to scar. If you were to cut that hand 100 times, then its just not going to make it. If your liver is at the cirrhosis stage, then don't disappear. Many people carry on leading normal lives, with certain life style changes. You've done the hard part, so just give your liver time. It really is an amazing, resilient organ
Hi thanks for replying. They've told me it's acute liver failure and I have to have ascites drained from round my stomach. Its uncomfortable lol but I just keep plodding on
Hello Ruth, many thanks for replying, I am so sorry you have to go through the ascites drain. This can be very frustrating. Would you mind if I messaged you privately please?
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