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Liver test can help with early detection, avoid transplant list

Updated: 2009-08-31 20:07:01 CST Category: Liver Diseases

by Francis Ma

According to new research, the process for a patient waiting on a new liver may not be fairly administered across such aspects as race, gender and insurance status.

The study, which appears in the September issue of the American Journal of Transplantation, suggests that women, blacks and patients with Medicare who are in "end-stage liver disease" are less likely to get a liver transplant.

Dr Cindy L. Bryce, lead author of the study and associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said there was "no comprehensive oversight of liver disease patients as they go through evaluation."

"Ours is the first major study to look at whether everyone with liver-related conditions has a fair shot of being considered for transplantation, and points out that many patients are being excluded from this process," Bryce said.

Some people may be able to avoid ending up on a transplant list through regular liver tests to ensure optimal health. Many health officials have stated that for most health conditions, early detection of any ailment is key for getting the right treatment and to head off a disease as quickly as possible.

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