Monday, October 7, 2013

Every 9th Pakistani suffering from liver diseases

Every 9th countryman suffering from liver diseases piling up the number of patients to 1.2 million in which around 300,000 patients are in dire need of liver transplantation. Prof Amir Latif, who is one of the two professors of liver diseases and transplantation in the country and currently serving as professor of liver transplantation in Liver Transplant Unit of Kidney Center in Sheikh Zayed Hospital (SZH), said this while responding to a question about leading diseases of liver in Pakistanis. He said around 80 to 90 per cent of liver disease patients were suffering from viral diseases like hepatitis while the remaining patients have metabolic, wilson and alcoholic diseases. Regarding symptoms of the disease in patients, Prof Amir Latif said constant feeling of tiredness, dark complexion, fever, haemetensis, malena and ascites are major symptoms of liver disease patient. As many as 1.2 million patients of liver transplantation were present in the country wherein 300,000 were in dire need of liver transplantation, he said. Responding to another query about the survival period of liver disease patient, he said it varies to the intensity and stages of disease, however, a liver disease patient may expire within one to six years if not treated properly. "We can provide all kind of treatment of liver diseases if government provides required facilities including two operation theatres, 50-bed separate ward, medical officers for back up treatment, some diagnostic equipment and funding," he said. It is worth mentioning here that seven liver transplantation has been performed in the liver transplantation unit established in February last year in Kidney Centre of Shaikh Zayed Hospital on experimental basis. But this sole unit of liver transplantation required necessary facilities as the transplantation were performed by using operation theatres of urology and cardiac departments, he claimed.
- See more at: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/10/05/city/lahore/every-9th-pakistani-suffering-from-liver-diseases-prof-amir/#sthash.BrkYv2Gj.dpuf

No comments: