
November 1, 2000
Surgery
Question from Marion, Indiana, USA:
Can you give me some insight on the risks involved in a person with diabetes who is morbidly obese, has sleep apnea,and thyroid disease undergoing a liver transplant because of NASH?
Answer:
NASH is an acronym for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. It does make up a significant proportion of individuals who have received a liver transplant. We have seen this occur when diabetes has not been well controlled and there is a buildup of fat within the liver. In some way, this damages the liver and leads to end stage disease and requiring a transplant. We have also seen the condition in individuals who have a specific kind of diabetes, known as lipoatrophic diabetes. It can also recur in the transplanted liver. It is important that these issues are addressed before a transplant occurs.
JTL