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Raising awareness of underestimated liver diseases

The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. Among other things, it is responsible for metabolism, the immune system, and the breakdown of medicines, alcohol, and chemical substances.
But as important as the liver is, liver diseases are rarely discussed in public. Patients and their relatives often lack active support.
“We aim to change this!”

Facts

• It is estimated that up to three million people in Switzerland live with a liver disease. Only 10 to 15 percent of cases are diagnosed and receive medical care.
• Fatty liver is on the rise as a new disease of civilisation. The most common liver diseases include alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver, viral liver inflammation and iron storage diseases (haemochromatosis).
• Worldwide, chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections are still among the most common causes of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver-related mortality. Viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis A, E or D (as a co-infection with B) is also widespread.
• Swiss HePa is particularly committed to supporting individuals affected by rare liver diseases – including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and cholestatic liver diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).