Memorial Şişli Hospital Organ Transplant Center President Prof. Dr. Koray Acarlı gave information about the diseases that cause liver transplantation and the importance of organ donation due to the "November 3-9 Organ Donation Week".
When the liver, which is the factory of the body, is damaged for any reason, vital functions are adversely affected. Today, one of the diseases that cause chronic liver failure is fatty liver disease. Liver transplantation stands out as the most effective treatment of failure. While the number of transplants made from living donors in our country is above the desired level, it becomes clear how important organ donation is in this sense. Due to the lack of organ donation, the number of living donor transplants is increasing day by day.
Located in the upper right part of the abdominal cavity, the liver is the largest organ in the body. In addition, the liver undertakes many vital functions. Many diseases can occur as a result of damage to this organ, which works as the body's factory, for some reasons. The common feature of many of these diseases is that they do not show symptoms in the early stages. Among these diseases, alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Hepatitis B and C, Wilson, Hemochromatosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, biliary arthrosis can be counted. These diseases primarily cause cirrhosis. Although cirrhosis is known as a disease in the society, it actually means the deterioration of the liver structure.
prof. Dr. Koray Acarlı said that the only treatment for progressive liver disease is liver transplantation.
Liver cirrhosis can also be divided into stages according to its progression. In the first two stages, the progression of the problem can be minimized by providing regular physician control in patients. In treatments, it is essential to prevent the progression of hardened scar tissue in the liver and to prevent complications caused by the problem. In this process, it is important to stay away from the use of drugs, alcohol and unhealthy foods that are harmful to the liver. If cirrhosis is due to an autoimmune condition, drugs that suppress the immune system are used, and if it is caused by hepatitis, antiviral drugs are used. However, if the condition reaches an advanced level, the only treatment method is liver transplantation.
prof. Dr. Koray Acarlı warned that you should definitely find out if you have fatty liver.
In general, the most common cause of liver transplantation is Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and alcohol-related liver disease, while the number of liver transplant recipients has increased in recent years due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease, known as NASH, is about to take the first place among the most common causes of liver transplantation in the world, and almost everyone in the society has fatty liver. Many people do not care about fatty liver and do not think that it will be an obstacle to their lives.
Koray Acarlı stated that fatty liver did not show any symptoms in the first place.
Initially, people with fatty liver appear to have normal liver function. In the early stages, the liver is not detected by blood tests. However, the deterioration of the structure of the liver can be understood by methods such as biopsy or fibroscan. It is a dangerous situation because it does not give any symptoms in the first place. For this reason, patients with fatty liver problems should lose weight, eat healthy and give importance to exercise in order not to go to liver transplantation. Particular attention should be paid to this, as it is one of the most dangerous diseases of the liver in both Western and Eastern societies. Scientific studies have revealed striking data on this subject. Fatty liver is also seen in people who do not have weight problems. This is the result of a completely unhealthy diet and lack of movement. While the rate of fatty liver is 15 percent in people who are not overweight, the rate of NASH is 3 percent. NASH rate is 20 percent in first and second class obese people, and NASH rate is around 40 percent in overweight people. In Turkey, 66,8 percent of the adult population is overweight and 32.1 percent is obese. Obesity fatty liver; therefore, it can bring liver transplants.
Acarlı stated that organ donation from living donors has increased in our country, but that organ donation from cadavers is not at the desired level.
Although living donor transplantation rates are high, cadaveric organ donation figures cannot reach the desired level. However, organ donation is important and life-saving. Thanks to organ donation, it is possible to save someone else's life and ensure that he or she clings to life.
Acarlı emphasized that organ donation does not interfere with daily life.
Organ donation is not an obstacle to daily life. Organ donation is nothing like monetary donation. Maybe when donating money, individuals may refrain from donating by saying, "Maybe I'd buy a sweater." However, there is no such situation in organ donation. Moreover, organ donation is not only economical but also spiritually peaceful in this sense. Because organ donation means that a person gives life to a different body after death and continues his life in a different body. Many people stay away from organ donation until an illness comes on their own. Then, when the desired organ cannot be found, the live transplant option comes into play. When people have liver or kidney disease, they can receive organs from their relatives.
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