Synthetic hormone treatment reduces swollen livers
August 18th, 2009 - 6:07 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 18 (IANS) A six-month treatment with a synthetic gastro-intestinal hormone, Lanreotide, significantly decreased swollen cystic livers, compared to a ‘wait and see’ policy, says a new research.
At least five percent of the population have one or two cysts in the liver. Cysts are fluid-filled cavities. There are also many patients who have numerous cysts - a polycystic liver.
These cysts cause the liver to grow to four to six times its normal size. Until recently, surgery was the only possible treatment for these patients, but surgery leads to many complications, and the outcome is not always successful.
Ultimately, these patients need a liver transplantation, but in view of the limited availability of organs, only a few are actually transplanted.
The new treatment strategy for patients with many liver cysts was conducted by researchers from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
Hepatologist de Man R.A Drenth, professor at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, commented: “In Nijmegen, we had experience with the administration of synthetic gastrointestinal hormones in two polycystic liver patients.”
“This treatment resulted in significantly smaller liver cysts. This stimulated us to proceed to a randomized clinical trial in 54 polycystic liver patients from Nijmegen (The Netherlands) and Leuven (Belgium), said a Radboud University release.
These findings were reported online in Gastroenterology.
- Diabetes drug may retard growth of cysts in polycystic kidney disease - Nov 12, 2010
- Bone-anchored hearing aids 'beneficial' for hearing-impaired kids - Feb 22, 2011
- Scientists discover potential new drug therapy for kidney diseases - Apr 27, 2011
- Only 10 percent liver transplants on female patients: Doctors (With Image) - Sep 22, 2010
- Heat helps break processing speed barriers - Feb 08, 2012
- Kerala hospital introduces new diagnostic tool - Jan 11, 2012
- Gene linked to common birth defect in male genitalia identified - Nov 30, 2010
- Healing damaged liver tissues - Dec 05, 2011
- Cysts to reveal pancreatic cancer risk - Jun 04, 2010
- Bariatric surgery can 'safely' cut health risk in severely obese - Mar 15, 2011
- Marathon liver transplant saves three toddlers (with Images) - Jan 17, 2012
- Childhood kidney disorder may persist into adulthood with long-term complications - Sep 25, 2009
- Gastric bypass 'alters preference for sweet substances' - Nov 03, 2010
- 'Lack of organ donors affecting liver transplants' - Jan 19, 2012
- Potential drug treatment for kidney disease found - Jan 26, 2010
Tags: cavities, cysts in the liver, gastrointestinal, gastrointestinal hormones, hepatologist, hormone treatment, leuven belgium, liver cysts, liver patients, liver transplantation, livers, medical centre, netherlands, organs, polycystic liver, radboud university nijmegen, randomized clinical trial, six times, synthetic hormone, treatment strategy