Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) announced today that BARACLUDE® (entecavir) has been approved by the European Commission on February 28th 2011 to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in adult patients with evidence of decompensated liver disease.

Paris (PRWEB) March 7, 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) announced today that BARACLUDE® (entecavir) has been approved by the European Commission on February 28th 2011 to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in adult patients with evidence of decompensated liver disease.

BARACLUDE® was already approved in Europe in June 2006 for use in adult patients with CHB with compensated liver disease and evidence of active viral replication, persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological evidence of active inflammation and/or fibrosis.

This approval grants BARACLUDE® marketing authorisation in the 27 countries of the European Union. in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the decompensated indication for BARACLUDE® in October 2010.

Decompensated liver disease is characterised by failure of the liver to maintain adequate function, usually due to severe scarring, leading to fibrosis and/or cirrhosis caused by chronic liver inflammation.¹ it represents the end stage of hepatitis. Natural history data demonstrate that up to 40% of patients with CHB develop cirrhosis over their lifetimes, at a reported rate of 2-6% per year. Among CHB patients with cirrhosis, 3-5% per year progress to decompensated cirrhosis and 2-5% develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).²,³ Currently, the median survival rate in decompensated patients is two to three years, with only 28% of patients surviving for more than five years.¹,⁴

Once liver disease progresses to the decompenstated stage, a liver transplant is often necessary.

“The approval of this additional indication is an important milestone for CHB patients living with decompensated liver disease, a difficult to treat population whose mortality rates are high,” said Professor Jorg Petersen. “The data used to support this indication shows that BARACLUDE® is efficacious in treating decompensated patients.”

This approval is based on a randomised, open-label, multi-centre study (ETV-048) that compared the efficacy & safety of BARACLUDE® (1.0 mg once daily) with adefovir (10.0 mg once daily) administered in patients with HBeAg positive or negative CHB who had evidence of liver decompensation.

Data demonstrated that BARACLUDE® showed greater viral suppression compared to adefovir at 24 and 48 weeks following treatment initiation. At 48 weeks, 57% (57/100) of patients treated with BARACLUDE® achieved an undetectable viral load (d300 copies/ml) compared to 20% (18/91) of patients on adefovir.

ETV-048 Study ResultsThe 048 study evaluated 191 patients who were either HBeAG-positive or HBeAG-negative. Patients were either treatment-naïve or had been previously treated excluding pre-treatment with BARACLUDE®, adefovir or tenofovir.

Patients were randomised to receive BARACLUDE® (1.0 mg once daily) or adefovir (10.0 mg once daily) and were analysed through 48 weeks.

Baseline demographics were similar for both groups. Importantly, at baseline, patients had a mean CPT (child-pugh score) of 8.81 in the BARACLUDE® arm and 8.35 in the adefovir arm, and the mean MELD (Model for end stage Liver Disease) score was 17.1 and 15.3, respectively. both of these parameters measure the severity of hepatic decompensation.

The mean age of the study population was 52 years and the majority of the subjects were male (74%) and either Asian (54%) or Caucasian (33%).⁵

In the primary efficacy endpoint of mean change from baseline in serum HBV DNA at Week 24, BARACLUDE® was superior to adefovir (-4.48 versus -3.40; p < 0.0001).

Secondary efficacy endpoints included mean change from baseline in serum HBV DNA at Week 48 (-4.66 in the BARACLUDE® arm and -3.90 in the adefovir arm). in addition a greater proportion of patients on BARACLUDE® achieved an undetectable viral load compared to patients on adefovir at 48 weeks: 57% (57/100) versus 20% (18/91), respectively. Also patients on the BARACLUDE® arm decreased their MELD score from baseline by -2.6% versus -1.7% in the adefovir arm at Week 48, even though baseline MELD score had been higher with 17.1 for BARACLUDE® than 15.3 for adefovir. Further the normalization of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase enzyme) was achieved to a higher proportion in the BARACLUDE®-treated patients (d1 x Upper Limit of Normal) at Week 48 [63% (49/78)] compared with adefovir-treated patients [46% (33/71)].

The time to onset of HCC or death was comparable in the two treatment groups; on-study cumulative death rates were 23% (23/102) and 33% (29/89) for patients treated with BARACLUDE® and adefovir, respectively; and on-study cumulative rates of HCC were 12% (12/102) and 20% (18/89) for BARACLUDE® and adefovir, respectively.

BARACLUDE® was generally well tolerated and safety results were comparable between the treatment groups and consistent with those previously reported for a population with decompensated liver disease. Serious adverse events occurred in 69% of the BARACLUDE® patients and 66% of the adefovirpatientsand discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in 7% of the Baraclude patients and 6 % of the adefovir patients.⁵

Important Information About BARACLUDE®

Discovered at Bristol-Myers Squibb, BARACLUDE® is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults with:

• Compensated liver disease and evidence of active viral replication, persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological evidence of active inflammation and/or fibrosis.
• Decompensated liver disease.

a higher rate of serious hepatic adverse events (regardless of causality) has been observed in patients with decompensated liver disease, in particular in those with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class C disease, compared with rates in patients with compensated liver function. in addition, patients with decompensated liver disease may be at higher risk for lactic acidosis and specific renal adverse events such as hepatorenal syndrome. Clinical and laboratory parameters should be closely monitored in this patient population.

*For full prescribing information for BARACLUDE®, please consult the Summary of Product Characteristics.

About Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB)Chronic hepatitis B is a serious global health issue. Worldwide, more than 2 billion people have been in contact with the hepatitis B virus and approximately 350 million people are chronically infected.⁶

About Decompensated Liver DiseaseDecompensated liver disease is characterised by failure of the liver to maintain adequate function, often due to severe scarring leading to fibrosis and/or cirrhosis caused by chronic liver inflammation.¹ Symptoms of liver decompensation can include but are not limited to: jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), ascites (swollen abdomen from abnormal accumulation of fluid), oesophageal varices (distorted blood vessels that may cause potentially fatal bleeding), and hepatic encephalopathy (neuropsychiatric abnormality resulting in personality changes, intellectual impairment and reduced levels of consciousness).¹

About Bristol-Myers SquibbBristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.

BARACLUDE® (entecavir) is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Contact:Media: Annie Simond, office: +33 1 58 83 65 66, annie(dot)simond(at)bms(dot)com

References¹ D’Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, Pagliaro L. Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis: a systematic review of 118 studies. J. Hepatol. 2006; 44: 217–31. ² Chu C-M and Liaw Y-F. Hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis: Natural history and treatment. Seminars in Liver Disease 2006;26(2):142-152.³ Fattovich G, Stroffolini T, Zagni I, Donato F. Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: Incidence and risk factors. Gastroenterology 2004;127(5 Suppl 1):S35-S50.⁴ Fattovich G, Pantalena M, Zagni I et al. Effect of hepatitis B and C virus infections on the natural history of compensated cirrhosis: a cohort study of 297 patients. am. J. Gastroenterol. 2002; 97: 2886–95.⁵ Y. Liaw, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Entecavir versus Adefovir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Evidence of Hepatic Decompensation. Abstract and Poster 442. AASLD 2009.⁶ World Helath Organization Web site. Fact sheet N• 204. who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/. Accessed 3 December 2010.

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Annie SimondBristol-Myers Squibb+33 1 58 83 65 66Email Information

Paris (ots/PRNewswire) – Bristol-Myers Squibb announced today that BARACLUDE(R) (entecavir) has been approved by the European Commission on February 28th 2011 to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in adult patients with evidence of decompensated liver disease. BARACLUDE(r) was already approved in Europe in June 2006 for use in adult patients with CHB with compensated liver disease and evidence of active viral replication, persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological evidence of active inflammation and/or fibrosis. this approval grants BARACLUDE(r) marketing authorisation in the 27 countries of the European Union. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the decompensated indication for BARACLUDE(r) in October 2010. Decompensated liver disease is characterised by failure of the liver to maintain adequate function, usually due to severe scarring, leading to fibrosis and/or cirrhosis caused by chronic liver inflammation.[1] It represents the end stage of hepatitis. Natural history data demonstrate that up to 40% of patients with CHB develop cirrhosis over their lifetimes, at a reported rate of 2-6% per year.[1] among CHB patients with cirrhosis, 3-5% per year progress to decompensated cirrhosis and 2-5% develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).[2,3] Currently, the median survival rate in decompensated patients is two to three years, with only 28% of patients surviving for more than five years.[1,4] once liver disease progresses to the decompenstated stage, a liver transplant is often necessary. “The approval of this additional indication is an important milestone for CHB patients living with decompensated liver disease, a difficult to treat population whose mortality rates are high,” said Professor Jorg Petersen. “The data used to support this indication shows that BARACLUDE(r) is efficacious in treating decompensated patients.” this approval is based on a randomised, open-label, multi-centre study (ETV-048) that compared the efficacy&safety of BARACLUDE(r) (1.0 mg once daily) with adefovir (10.0 mg once daily) administered in patients with HBeAg positive or negative CHB who had evidence of liver decompensation. Data demonstrated that BARACLUDE(r) showed greater viral suppression compared to adefovir at 24 and 48 weeks following treatment initiation. At 48 weeks, 57% (57/100) of patients treated with BARACLUDE(r) achieved an undetectable viral load (less than or equal to 300 copies/ml) compared to 20% (18/91) of patients on adefovir. ETV-048 Study Results The 048 study evaluated 191 patients who were either HBeAG-positive or HBeAG-negative. Patients were either treatment-naive or had been previously treated excluding pre-treatment with BARACLUDE(r), adefovir or tenofovir. Patients were randomised to receive BARACLUDE(r) (1.0 mg once daily) or adefovir (10.0 mg once daily) and were analysed through 48 weeks. Baseline demographics were similar for both groups. Importantly, at baseline, patients had a mean CPT (child-pugh score) of 8.81 in the BARACLUDE(r) arm and 8.35 in the adefovir arm, and the mean MELD (Model for end stage Liver Disease) score was 17.1 and 15.3, respectively. Both of these parameters measure the severity of hepatic decompensation. The mean age of the study population was 52 years and the majority of the subjects were male (74%) and either Asian (54%) or Caucasian (33%).[5] In the primary efficacy endpoint of mean change from baseline in serum HBV DNA at Week 24, BARACLUDE(r) was superior to adefovir (-4.48 versus -3.40; p < 0.0001). Secondary efficacy endpoints included mean change from baseline in serum HBV DNA at Week 48 (-4.66 in the BARACLUDE(r) arm and -3.90 in the adefovir arm). In addition a greater proportion of patients on BARACLUDE(r) achieved an undetectable viral load compared to patients on adefovir at 48 weeks: 57% (57/100) versus 20% (18/91), respectively. Also patients on the BARACLUDE(r) arm decreased their MELD score from baseline by -2.6% versus -1.7% in the adefovir arm at Week 48, even though baseline MELD score had been higher with 17.1 for BARACLUDE(r) than 15.3 for adefovir. Further the normalization of ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase enzyme) was achieved to a higher proportion in the BARACLUDE(r)-treated patients (less than or equal to 1 x Upper Limit of Normal) at Week 48 [63% (49/78)] compared with adefovir-treated patients [46% (33/71)]. The time to onset of HCC or death was comparable in the two treatment groups; on-study cumulative death rates were 23% (23/102) and 33% (29/89) for patients treated with BARACLUDE(r) and adefovir, respectively; and on-study cumulative rates of HCC were 12% (12/102) and 20% (18/89) for BARACLUDE(r) and adefovir, respectively. BARACLUDE(r) was generally well tolerated and safety results were comparable between the treatment groups and consistent with those previously reported for a population with decompensated liver disease. Serious adverse events occurred in 69% of the BARACLUDE(r) patients and 66% of the adefovirpatientsand discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in 7% of the Baraclude patients and 6 % of the adefovir patients.[5] Important Information about BARACLUDE(r) Discovered at Bristol-Myers Squibb, BARACLUDE(r) is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults with: – Compensated liver disease and evidence of active viral replication, persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological evidence of active inflammation and/or fibrosis. – Decompensated liver disease. a higher rate of serious hepatic adverse events (regardless of causality) has been observed in patients with decompensated liver disease, in particular in those with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class C disease, compared with rates in patients with compensated liver function. In addition, patients with decompensated liver disease may be at higher risk for lactic acidosis and specific renal adverse events such as hepatorenal syndrome. Clinical and laboratory parameters should be closely monitored in this patient population. * for full prescribing information for BARACLUDE(r), please consult the Summary of Product Characteristics. about Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) Chronic hepatitis B is a serious global health issue. Worldwide, more than 2 billion people have been in contact with the hepatitis B virus and approximately 350 million people are chronically infected.[6] about Decompensated Liver Disease Decompensated liver disease is characterised by failure of the liver to maintain adequate function, often due to severe scarring leading to fibrosis and/or cirrhosis caused by chronic liver inflammation.[1] Symptoms of liver decompensation can include but are not limited to: jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), ascites (swollen abdomen from abnormal accumulation of fluid), oesophageal varices (distorted blood vessels that may cause potentially fatal bleeding), and hepatic encephalopathy ( neuropsychiatric abnormality resulting in personality changes, intellectual impairment and reduced levels of consciousness).[1] about Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. BARACLUDE(R) (entecavir) is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. References 1. D'Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, Pagliaro L. Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis: a systematic review of 118 studies. J. Hepatol. 2006; 44: 217-31. 2. Chu C-M and Liaw Y-F. Hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis: Natural history and treatment. Seminars in Liver Disease 2006;26(2):142-152. 3. Fattovich G, Stroffolini T, Zagni I, Donato F. Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: Incidence and risk factors. Gastroenterology 2004;127(5 Suppl 1):S35-S50. 4. Fattovich G, Pantalena M, Zagni I et al. Effect of hepatitis B and C virus infections on the natural history of compensated cirrhosis: a cohort study of 297 patients. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 2002; 97: 2886-95. 5. Y. Liaw, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Entecavir versus Adefovir in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Evidence of Hepatic Decompensation. Abstract and Poster 442. AASLD 2009. 6. World Helath Organization Web site. Fact sheet N- 204. who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/. Accessed 3 December 2010.ots Originaltext: Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH&Co.KG aA Im Internet recherchierbar: presseportal.deContact: Contact: Media: Annie Simond, office: +33-1-58-83-65-66,© 2011 news aktuell

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Despite reports of liver damage in some women using black cohosh to ease menopause symptoms, clinical trials testing one major brand of this herb have so far found no evidence that it is to blame, according to a research review.

Extracts of black cohosh, a plant native to North America, are marketed as a "natural" form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and are most commonly used to treat hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.

Studies so far have come to conflicting conclusions about whether black cohosh works.

There have also been concerns raised about its safety. Reports of liver inflammation and liver failure in a small number of black cohosh users prompted some countries, like Australia and the UK, to require warning labels on the products.

But it has never been clear that black cohosh was to blame for those cases of liver damage. in most cases, doctors were unable to account for the patients' drinking habits or use of medications that can harm the liver.

And many postmenopausal women who are plagued by hot flashes and night sweats prefer to try black cohosh instead of taking hormones. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, has been controversial since 2002, when the Women's Health Initiative, a massive government-sponsored clinical trial, found that women on HRT had higher rates of heart attack, stroke, breast cancer and blood clots than placebo users.

Experts now advise that while HRT is effective for menopausal symptoms, women should take the lowest possible dose for the shortest time possible.

For the new study, reported in the journal Menopause, researchers combined the results of five previously published clinical trials of the black cohosh product Remifemin. together, the studies involved more than 1,100 women who used either this black cohosh product or a comparison substance — either an inactive placebo or a hormonal medication called tibolone — for three to six months.

Overall, the researchers found, 88 women dropped out of the studies, but none did so because of abnormal liver enzymes, a potential sign of liver damage.

And there was no evidence that black cohosh triggered harmful changes in liver enzymes. in both the black cohosh and comparison groups, about 5 percent of women developed abnormally high levels of a liver enzyme known as AST.

On the other hand, of 37 black cohosh users who had abnormally high AST levels before treatment, 62 percent saw those levels drop back into the normal range during therapy.

The study was led by Dr. Belal Naser of Salzgitter, Germany-based Schaper & Brummer GmbH & Co., which manufactures Remifemin.

But an expert not involved in the study said the findings are consistent with other evidence that black cohosh is safe for the liver.

Dr. Richard B. van Breemen, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy in Chicago, was part of a 2009 clinical trial that tested black cohosh against a placebo, standard hormone replacement and red clover — another alternative therapy for menopause symptoms.

They found that over one year, black cohosh was no better than the placebo for easing hot flashes and night sweats.

But there was also no evidence that the herb harmed women's liver function.

"although black cohosh did not prevent hot flashes in menopausal women in our study, we found that black cohosh was safe," van Breemen told Reuters Health in an email. "in particular, we tested for liver damage in our study and found that black cohosh was not hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver)."

That trial, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was not included in the current analysis — which focused only on trials of Remifemin.

that narrow focus, van Breemen noted, is a weakness of the study.

still, he said, "the conclusion…that black cohosh does not cause liver damage is consistent with the results of our investigation and many other clinical trials."

in general, experts do advise that women stop using black cohosh and tell their doctor if they develop any potential signs of liver toxicity, including abdominal pain, dark urine or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

Three months worth of Remifemin tablets costs about $30 in the U.S. — roughly the same as Premarin, a widely used hormone replacement drug.

SOURCE: bit.ly/gANnQZ Menopause, online January 11, 2011.

Liver Disease and Natural Home Remedies for Liver Care

Liver disease (also called hepatic disease) is a broad term telling any single number of diseases affecting the liver. many are accompanied by jaundice caused by increased level of bilirubin in the system.

The bilirubin results from the breakup of the hemoglobin of dead red blood cells; normally, the liver removes bilirubin from the blood and excretes it through bile.

Liver disease is any form that causes liver inflammation or tissue damage and affects liver function.

The liver is a vital organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen.

Read more on Liver Care Remedies and Natural Weight Loss and Herbal Supplements

It is as large as a football, weighs 2-3 pounds, and perform numerous functions for the body: converting nutrients derived from food into essential blood mechanism, storing vitamins and minerals, regulating blood clotting, producing proteins and enzymes, maintain hormone balances, and metabolizing and detoxifying substance that would otherwise be harmful to the body.

Liver disease is any disturbance of liver function that causes illness. the liver is to blame for many critical functions within the body and should it become diseased or injured, the loss of those functions can cause noteworthy damage to the body.

Symptoms of Liver Disease

Often people feel that they might be distress from some kind of liver disease but it can be a hideous act for anybody to identify obtusely taking place liver disease symptoms. thus, it is a better idea to consult a certified doctor to diagnose you for any likely liver disease.

1.    Headache 2.    Problem of skin 3.    Allergy 4.    Feeling of Dizziness 5.    Tinnitus 6.    Ticks, Spasms and Tremors 7.    Sudden Seizures 8.    Stroke 9.    Redness and itchiness of eyes

Treatment of Liver Disease

One of the greatest abilities of the Liver is that it can renew itself. this should provide a great deal of hope for anyone suffering from liver disease. There are a few things that you need to do in order to turn your scarred liver into a brand new healthy liver. Follow the steps below:

Start consuming Dandelion (that plant that almost certainly grows all around your home). the leaves of the Dandelion plant can be picked, washed, and mixed in with your salads.

But you can also find Dandelion tinctures or other forms of Dandelion extracts at your local health food store. Dandelion is awfully useful for the health of the liver and related organs and glands.

Home Remedies for Liver Cirrhosis

Wash 3-4 leaves of sacred fig (Ficus religiosa). Mash them with sugar candy and mix it in 250 mg of water, drink twice a day after sieving the mix.

This is a very good home remedy for liver care.Decrease fat intake by 20-30 grams per day as in liver damage, bile secretion and digestion is affected that hinders the fat absorption.

Liver cirrhosis treatment – take one teaspoonful of glucose in one cup of water thrice a day in the morning, afternoon and night.

Take juice of 2 oranges empty stomach for 5-7 days.take 50 grams of white radish leaves and stem, add sugar candy in it and drink it every morning with empty stomach. this is a very simple and one of the effectual home remedies for liver care.

Daily intake of a pinch of roast alum with buttermilk twice or thrice daily is highly beneficial in liver damage treatment.

Squeeze a lemon in 100 grams of water and add a pinch of salt, drink thrice a day for 21 days.

The Liver Part One:

The Liver Part two:

What is liver disease?

Liver disease is any disturbance of liver function that causes illness. The liver is responsible for many critical functions within the body and should it become diseased or injured, the loss of those functions can cause significant damage to the body. Liver disease is also referred to as hepatic disease.

Liver disease is a broad term that covers all the potential problems that may occur to cause the liver to fail to perform its designated functions. Usually, more than 75% or three quarters of liver tissue needs to be affected before decrease in function occurs.

What are the causes of liver disease?

Alcohol abuse:Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of liver disease in North America. Alcohol is directly toxic to liver cells and can cause liver inflammation, referred to as alcoholic hepatitis. In chronic alcohol abuse, fatty accumulation (steatosis) occurs in liver cells causing the cells to malfunction.

Cirrhosis:Cirrhosis is a late-stage liver disease. Scarring of the liver and loss of functioning liver cells cause the liver to fail.

Drug-induced liver disease:Liver cells may become temporarily inflamed or permanently damaged by exposure to medications or drugs. Some medications or drugs require an overdose to cause liver injury while others may cause the damage even when taken in the appropriately prescribed dosage.

Classic symptoms of liver disease include:

* nausea,* vomiting,* right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and* jaundice (a yellow discoloration of the skin due to elevated bilirubin concentrations in the bloodstream).

Fatigue, weakness and weight loss may also be occur.

However, since there are a variety of liver diseases, the symptoms tend to be specific for that illness until late-stage liver disease and liver failure occurs.

Examples of liver disease symptoms due to certain conditions or diseases include:

* a person with gallstones may experience right upper abdominal pain and vomiting after eating a greasy (fatty) meal. if the gallbladder becomes infected, fever may occur.

* Gilbert’s disease have no symptoms.

* Individuals with cirrhosis will develop progressive symptoms as the liver fails. Some symptoms are directly related to the inability of the liver to metabolize the body’s waste products. Others reflect the failure of the liver to manufacture proteins required for body function and may affect blood clotting function, secondary sex characteristics and brain function. Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver include:

* Easy bruising may occur due to decreased production of clotting factors;

* Bile salts can deposit in the skin causing itching;

* Gynecomastia or enlarged breasts in men may occur because of an imbalance in sex hormones; specifically an increase in estradiol;

* Impotence (erectile dysfunction, ED), poor sex drive and shrinking testicles are due to decrease in function of sex hormones;

* Confusion and lethargy may occur if ammonia levels rise in the blood stream (ammonia is a waste product formed from protein metabolism and requires normal liver cells to remove it);

* Ascites (fluid accumulation within the abdominal cavity) occurs because of decreased protein production; and

* Muscle wasting may occur because of reduced protein production.

Additionally, there is increased pressure within the cirrhotic liver affecting blood flow through the liver. Increased pressure in the portal vein causes blood flow to the liver to slow and blood vessels to swell. Swollen veins (varices) form around the stomach and esophagus and are at risk for bleeding.

Natural Solutions To Prevent Liver Disease:

Symptoms of liver disease are a sign to take charge of your health. they are telling you your body needs help. Milk thistle is the first herb I would recommend. I recommend it even if you do not have any symptoms. it may help detoxify environmental toxins, death cap mushroom poisoning, alcohol, and is known to regenerate liver tissues.

Additional resources: medicinenet.com/liver_disease/article.htm

Here are some natural solutions for Liver Cleanse: Liver DTX

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You can also call me at: 678-995-7458

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