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New Liver Biomarkers for diagnosis of common liver diseases
FibroTest and FibroMax are non-invasive, quick and reliable
tests, validated by numerous studies in the most common liver
injuries caused by Hepatitis B (1), Hepatitis C (2), metabolic
disorders (3) and alcohol abuse (4), by only using a simple blood sample.
An alarming risk of fibrosis worldwide
Chronic liver disease is responsible for over 1.4million deaths
annually (WHO, World Health Report 2004) and in the US is among the top ten disease
related causes of death (CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 2004).
Statistical analysis estimated that about 1.700 billion people
worldwide present with risk factor of developing liver fibrosis:
- About 300 million with fibrosis risk due to viral hepatitis B
- About 180 million with fibrosis risk due to viral hepatitis C
- About 600 million with fibrosis risk due to metabolic disorders (ex: overweight, obesity, cholesterol, type II diabetes…)
- About 600 million with fibrosis risk due to excessive alcohol consumption
One of the most studied causes of liver fibrosis is the
viral hepatitis C. The report on this disease is quiet alarming. Around 80% of the HCV
infected patients remain undiagnosed in Europe and the US.
The impact of this lack of diagnosis is that HCV is responsible for 40%
of liver cirrhosis, 60% of liver cancers and 40% of Liver transplants.
Glossary
- (2) HCV: is a blood-borne infectious disease that is caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infecting the liver.
- (2) HBV: is a blood-borne infectious disease that is caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infecting the liver.
- (3) NASH (NAFLD): Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a common, often 'silent' liver disease featured by excessive fat in the liver associated with inflammation due to metabolic disorders like overweight/obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension' - (NAFLD: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease)
- (4) ASH (AFLD): Alcoholic steatohepatitis is caused by drinking too much alcohol which develop significant inflammation of the liver (ALD: Alcoholic liver disease)
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