Liver disease defines several conditions that affect the liver, including inflammation, hepatitis and liver cancer. However, specialists point out that it is essential to understand that not all liver diseases are hereditary and only some liver diseases have a genetic component related to them.
Genetics is the study of genes, their function, and their effects on human traits. The basic units of heredity are genes passed from parents to offspring. Genetic factors can influence eye color, height and disease susceptibility.
5 genetic predispositions of liver diseases
Hereditary refers to the transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring through genes. These traits can be determined by combining the genes of both parents.
Several genetic disorders that can cause liver disease include hemochromatosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson’s disease, and autoimmune liver disease. Congenital abnormalities can cause susceptibility to liver cancer.
Various genetic variables can also lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Hemochromatosis is an inherited disease in which the body absorbs too much iron, damaging the liver. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can lead to liver and lung problems when a crucial enzyme needed for the proper functioning of these organs is missing.
In Wilson’s disease, copper accumulates in the brain. This is a common cause of liver cirrhosis, which usually occurs in children and young adults.
Familial hypercholesterolemia is another hereditary disease that can induce high cholesterol and increase the chance of developing liver disease.
Autoimmune hepatitis can also be inherited, as specific clusters of genes are seen more frequently in people with the disorder. However, the exact genetic element that causes this condition is not known.
Not all liver diseases are genetic, and various environmental factors, including alcohol consumption, the hepatitis virus, and exposure to certain toxins, can cause some. However, an interaction between hereditary and environmental variables can commonly occur and develop liver disease in patients.
“In recent years there have been more and more cases of young adults with severe liver disease. Although these young people drink alcohol, they may not have been drinking enough or long enough to have such extensive liver disease in their early 20s or early 30s.
This indicates that in these patients there may be an underlying predisposition to another type of liver disease, such as a predisposition to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with alcohol-induced overlap, which causes exponential liver damage and leads to earlier onset early. of decompensated liver disease,” explained Dr. Rajiv Lochan, senior consultant – BPH and liver transplant surgery, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, according to healthsite.com, quoted by doctorulzilei.ro.
2023-10-30 23:44:53
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