Alternatives to a Liver Transplant

The liver is one of the most resilient organs in the human body. However, like all other organs it is vulnerable to disease. If it is subjected to illness, alcoholism or certain drugs, eventually the liver begin to deteriorate and the only option for survival is a liver transplant. Currently science researchers are trying to give liver disease patients hope for alternatives to the risky and expensive procedure.

Reasons for Transplants

• There are many reasons for liver transplants; for example, some people are born with birth defects of the liver. Others suffer from thrombosis, a condition that causes the liver to have difficulty draining bile. Long-term liver damage from conditions and diseases, such as Wilson's disease, hepatitis and cirrhosis, can also result in the need for a transplant. Also, alcoholics and drug abusers apply so much stress on their livers that eventually the organ will begin to deteriorate and need to be replaced via a transplant.

About Liver Transplant

• Essentially, a liver transplant surgically replaces a diseased liver with a healthy one. Usually the donated liver comes from a recently deceased individual. According to research done by Penn State Hershey, a successful liver transplant can extend the patient's life by three years or more. The patients will still need to be on medication for the remainder of their lives. Additionally the cost of the surgery and medication can become overwhelming for many transplant recipients.

Natural Alternatives

• Many do not want to take the risk that a new liver will be rejected or they simply cannot afford the expense involved. They pursue risky natural alternatives that may prolong their life a little but will not necessarily cure their liver. Two examples are the addition of milk thistle seed extracts and artichokes to the daily diet. Both have been said to assist the liver in regenerating itself. They do this by increasing protein synthesis and thus strengthening the organ's capability to regenerate.

  Another natural supplement to add to a liver-disease diet is dandelion; it is useful for the liver as a natural detoxifier. Historically many cultures have used all these substances as natural remedies for liver ailments. However, people should be aware that scientific research has not yet confirmed the validity of these claims.

Remove Infected Part of the Liver

• Another option as an alternative to a liver transplant is for a living donor to give a portion of his own healthy liver as a partial transplant. The theory is that the healthy segment of the damaged liver is still capable of eventually regenerating itself. The recipient must have a substantial amount of healthy liver and not be in the advanced stages of fibrosis.

  A partial liver transplant does come with some risks to the donor. It may cause too much stress on her system and, as with any operation, she may suffer from a deadly infection. And as with a complete liver transplant, the recipient may still reject the donated portion or suffer from infection as well.

Liver Stem Cell Therapy

• The most controversial and simultaneously possibly best potential alternative to a liver transplant is liver stem-cell therapy. So far there have been many successful tests with animals. The most promising aspect of this alternative is that it can be applied in the earlier stages of liver disease or to patients who cannot wait long enough for a liver transplant procedure. Donors with less than perfectly healthy livers, who normally would not donate their liver, would contribute the cells.

  There are some possible risks along with this procedure, in particular high blood pressure and an increase in blood clots. Unfortunately, the test results are still not quite perfected enough for this to be a readily available alternative to a liver transplant.