March 2006 – Canadian researchers have found that fatigue is the most commonly encountered symptom in patients with liver disease, and has a significant impact on their quality of life. Because of difficulties in defining and treating fatigue, the symptom is unfortunately often overlooked or minimized by physicians, according to author Mark Swain, M.D. The prevalence of fatigue in different types of liver disease is also variable. For example, patients with known hepatitis C report much greater fatigue than those unaware of their diagnosis. In contrast, patients with chronic hepatitis B appear to have health related quality of life scores similar to non-affected individuals. Recent advances in measuring fatigue in patients with liver disease suggest that it may occur as a result of changes in the signaling between the diseased liver and the brain. A better understanding of the pathways involved may provide directed specific therapies for liver-associated fatigue. Canadian J.
Gastroenterology, March 2006; 20(3)

BInformed, Summer 2006.