LIVER-DISEASE IN THE ELDERLY

While there are no liver diseases specific to advanced age, the presen tation, clinical course and management of liver diseases in the elderl y may differ in important respects from younger individuals. The manag ement of older patients with specific liver diseases should be informe d by these differences. Alcoholic liver disease presents at a more adv anced stage, drug induced liver disease and viral hepatitis may also b e more severe. It is increasingly recognised that primary hepatocellul ar cancer arises in elderly cirrhotics regardless of the etiology of t he cirrhosis, the risk highest in hemochromatosis and cirrhosis arisin g from hepatitis B and C.