August 1, 2016

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Brazil faces major challenges in liver transplantation

3D-illustration of a human liver with blood vessels (red and blue) and bile duct (green) Source: Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Meinzer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
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3D-illustration of a human liver with blood vessels (red and blue) and bile duct (green) Source: Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Meinzer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum

A recent analysis indicates that more than 1700 liver transplantations are performed annually in Brazil. While Brazil performs more liver transplant surgeries than anywhere else in Latin America and is third worldwide in absolute terms, the country averages only 5 to 10 liver transplants per million population due to its increasing population and inadequate donor organ supply.

Investigators also found that access to in the underprivileged North, Midwest, and Northeast regions of Brazil is scarce.

The results are published in Liver Transplantation.

More information: Paulo Lisboa Bittencourt et al, Liver Transplantation in Brazil, Liver Transplantation (2016). DOI: 10.1002/lt.24487

Journal information: Liver Transplantation

Provided by Wiley

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