Aa
A friend sent this post-Reversing cirrhosis and fibrosis
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5382172.stm
Drug 'may reverse liver disease'
A cheap and readily available drug could reverse severe liver disease, even in patients who find it impossible to give up booze, research suggests.
Sulfasalazine is currently used to treat arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
But a University of Newcastle team has found that it can also reverse the scarring associated with cirrhosis of the liver.
Liver disease is the fifth highest cause of death in the UK.
It would not be too optimistic to say this drug could halve that death rate
Professor Chris Day
It is estimated that up to 10% of the UK population have problems with their liver - and most are linked to lifestyle factors, such as heavy drinking and obesity.
Scientists had thought that the scarring associated with cirrhosis - known as fibrosis - was irreversible.
However, recent studies have shown that is not the case.
Now the Newcastle team, in tests on animals, have shown that sulfasalazine can aid the recovery process.
Regeneration
When the liver is injured specialised cells called hepatic myofibroblasts create scar tissue, and secrete proteins which prevent it being broken down.
In healthy liver tissue the scars eventually melt away and are replaced by new normal tissue.
However, in diseased tissue this process does not happen. Instead the scar tissue proliferates, and spreads throughout the whole organ.
The Newcastle team showed that sulfasalazine could aid recovery by blocking the production of proteins that keep the scar tissue cells alive.
They plan to carry out trials in humans, but already believe the drug has the potential to provide an alternative to a liver transplant.
The drug will initially be given to heavy drinkers who have given up alcohol, but too late for their liver to recover naturally.
If this proves successful, the medicine will also be prescribed to alcoholics who continue to drink but show a determination to fight their addiction by reducing their intake.
Professor Derek Mann, who led the research, said just a 5% to 10% recovery of the organ could have a huge impact on quality of life.
Efforts needed
Professor Chris Day, head of Newcastle University's School of Clinical Medical Sciences, said the drug was likely to work best on people who had made some effort to kick their boozing habit.
But he said it offered a potential solution to the tricky ethical problem of offering people who abused alcohol a liver transplant.
Some believe it is wrong to use organs that are in very short supply on people who have not demonstrated their ability to reform their drinking.
Professor Day said: "In that situation you may not give somebody a transplant, but you are not going to stop them getting a tablet, particularly if it only costs £10 a week.
"Cirrhosis is the fifth highest cause of death in the UK today, and it would not be too optimistic to say this drug could halve that death rate."
Professor David Jones, another member of the Newcastle liver team, said he and his colleagues regularly saw patients in their twenties with severe liver disease.
He said: "There is no point at which an alcoholic patient won't benefit from stopping drinking, but now we can actually help the healing process."
Anne Jenkins, of the charity Alcohol Concern, said: "The last 20 years have seen a significant increase in rates of liver cirrhosis, particularly among the 34-45 age group.
"Research that could help to reverse harm is obviously to be welcomed, but this work is at an early stage, and more needs to be done."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/5382172.stm
my question is, why haven't we heard about this before
Drug 'may reverse liver disease'
A cheap and readily available drug could reverse severe liver disease, even in patients who find it impossible to give up booze, research suggests.
Sulfasalazine is currently used to treat arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
But a University of Newcastle team has found that it can also reverse the scarring associated with cirrhosis of the liver.
Liver disease is the fifth highest cause of death in the UK.
It would not be too optimistic to say this drug could halve that death rate
Professor Chris Day
It is estimated that up to 10% of the UK population have problems with their liver - and most are linked to lifestyle factors, such as heavy drinking and obesity.
Scientists had thought that the scarring associated with cirrhosis - known as fibrosis - was irreversible.
However, recent studies have shown that is not the case.
Now the Newcastle team, in tests on animals, have shown that sulfasalazine can aid the recovery process.
Regeneration
When the liver is injured specialised cells called hepatic myofibroblasts create scar tissue, and secrete proteins which prevent it being broken down.
In healthy liver tissue the scars eventually melt away and are replaced by new normal tissue.
However, in diseased tissue this process does not happen. Instead the scar tissue proliferates, and spreads throughout the whole organ.
The Newcastle team showed that sulfasalazine could aid recovery by blocking the production of proteins that keep the scar tissue cells alive.
They plan to carry out trials in humans, but already believe the drug has the potential to provide an alternative to a liver transplant.
The drug will initially be given to heavy drinkers who have given up alcohol, but too late for their liver to recover naturally.
If this proves successful, the medicine will also be prescribed to alcoholics who continue to drink but show a determination to fight their addiction by reducing their intake.
Professor Derek Mann, who led the research, said just a 5% to 10% recovery of the organ could have a huge impact on quality of life.
Efforts needed
Professor Chris Day, head of Newcastle University's School of Clinical Medical Sciences, said the drug was likely to work best on people who had made some effort to kick their boozing habit.
But he said it offered a potential solution to the tricky ethical problem of offering people who abused alcohol a liver transplant.
Some believe it is wrong to use organs that are in very short supply on people who have not demonstrated their ability to reform their drinking.
Professor Day said: "In that situation you may not give somebody a transplant, but you are not going to stop them getting a tablet, particularly if it only costs £10 a week.
"Cirrhosis is the fifth highest cause of death in the UK today, and it would not be too optimistic to say this drug could halve that death rate."
Professor David Jones, another member of the Newcastle liver team, said he and his colleagues regularly saw patients in their twenties with severe liver disease.
He said: "There is no point at which an alcoholic patient won't benefit from stopping drinking, but now we can actually help the healing process."
Anne Jenkins, of the charity Alcohol Concern, said: "The last 20 years have seen a significant increase in rates of liver cirrhosis, particularly among the 34-45 age group.
"Research that could help to reverse harm is obviously to be welcomed, but this work is at an early stage, and more needs to be done."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/5382172.stm
my question is, why haven't we heard about this before
here is some older news (from 2002)
"Reversibility of cirrhosis in patients cured of thalassemia by bone marrow transplantation."
of course, this particular disease is different from HCV. Nevertheless, interesting study.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/433615
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=73084
"Reversibility of cirrhosis in patients cured of thalassemia by bone marrow transplantation."
of course, this particular disease is different from HCV. Nevertheless, interesting study.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/433615
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=73084
I nearly always get responses - I guess in the end it's the fart jokes that win 'em over.
You know - since the stuff definitely seems to affect a core aspect of the liver's ability to repair itself (a very integral piece of it's existence), I cn see how it's possibl trials could expose more harmm that good to those with significant damage... who's to say. Yes it seems safe for most folks, but with identified activity within the liver - I'd be inclined to take the conservative approach on that.
HR suggested I loose weight, eat like a liver evangelistt, excersise for an hour+ a day, and give that approach some time before even considering more agressive measures. He correctly points out that there's no risk, and these activities would also benefit all other aspects of my health.
Popping pills sure is easier though.
You know - since the stuff definitely seems to affect a core aspect of the liver's ability to repair itself (a very integral piece of it's existence), I cn see how it's possibl trials could expose more harmm that good to those with significant damage... who's to say. Yes it seems safe for most folks, but with identified activity within the liver - I'd be inclined to take the conservative approach on that.
HR suggested I loose weight, eat like a liver evangelistt, excersise for an hour+ a day, and give that approach some time before even considering more agressive measures. He correctly points out that there's no risk, and these activities would also benefit all other aspects of my health.
Popping pills sure is easier though.
Hey, Great move e-mailing that guy! I am a little surprised he returned it. Trials in a year huh? This is something worth keeping up with. Being able to reverse damage would be HUGE!! Wish we could poll a lot of heppers that also had arthritis and take sulfasalazine to see how thier livers were responding. w.s. Have you had a bx lately? How long ago? I am sure all would be interested. jerry ps It might not be " appropriate" to take this stuff at this time but heck it also is not "appropriate" to let ones liver to go to hades in a hand basket either!
Lactulose has no impact on fibrosis or cirrhosis
Supposing there was evidence that NH4 (ammonia) causes cellular swelling and oxidative damage in the liver. Would you then agree that using lactulose to bind and excrete the NH4 might lessen liver stress and aid the damaged liver in healing?
Supposing there was evidence that NH4 (ammonia) causes cellular swelling and oxidative damage in the liver. Would you then agree that using lactulose to bind and excrete the NH4 might lessen liver stress and aid the damaged liver in healing?
the small organnic acids from lactulose bind water and this is the reason to use it as a stool softener. It is a very good factor to improve the quality of the intestinal flora, because Bifidobacteria and Lactobacteria are better L.-metabolizers than Gram-negative (eg. Salomonella).
IT is a great stuff, the most important sides result from the fact, that it is metabolized to gas to :-) especially during the first weeks of treatment, before the flora adapted.
IT is a great stuff, the most important sides result from the fact, that it is metabolized to gas to :-) especially during the first weeks of treatment, before the flora adapted.
Lactulose is a dissacharid (similar to lactose, the sugar from milk), which is not digestable by human enzymes. In the Large Intestine it is metabolized by the symbiotic bacteria to small acids, which react with NH4 (from proteins) to give a salt, which is excreted. Less NH4 enters the blood system and brain. NH4 is one of the important reasons for brain fog, especially in late stages.
Lactulose has no impact on fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Hmm, difficult to explain complicated facts in a foreign language.
Lactulose has no impact on fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Hmm, difficult to explain complicated facts in a foreign language.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
