End Stage Liver Disease

In the United States, end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is the 12th leading cause of death and the 7th leading cause of death in people between the ages of 25 and 64 years. Complications of ESLD such as ascites, variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, and renal impairment primarily account for these deaths. Patients with ESLD require increasingly complex medical support and manifest a spectrum of complications and symptoms that have significant impact on both survival and quality of life.