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Pregnancy is the main determinant of some liver diseases in humans: acute fatty liver of pregnancy, cholestasis of pregnancy, and acute liver failure in toxaemia of pregnancy. Pregnancy also modifies the natural history of other more common hepatobiliary diseases, such as cholesterol gallstones. Sex hormones (mainly oestrogens, progesterone and/or some of its metabolites) and prolactin are considered responsible for these pathological consequences and they also appear to be influential in the outcome of several other hepatobiliary disorders, in both sexes and all ages. Although these disorders and their hormonal interrelations have been clinically well characterized, their pathogenesis remains obscure from the biomolecular point of view. In recent years, novel approaches using new technologies have improved our understanding of hormone actions and metabolism, hormone receptors, metabolic pathways and their interrelations with closely related molecules, such as bile acids. This book, the proceedings of the 89th Falk Symposium, held in Santiago, Chile, 10-11 November, 1995, will help research scientists and clinicians to review basic and clinical aspects of these interactions, in order to stimulate biomedical research in a relevant and exciting area.
List of contents
Tributes to Alexander P. Mowat. Preface; H. Reyes, et al. Section I: Physiological Interactions Between Sex Hormones and the Liver. 1. Synthesis of Sex Hormones; K.D.R. Setchell. 2. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary- Liver Axis: Growth Hormone Controls Liver Sex; P. Tollet, et al. Section II: Effects of Sex Hormones on Liver Cells and Bile Secretion. 3. The Role of Sex Hormones and Hepatic Plasma Membranes in the Pathogenesis of Cholestasis; F.R. Simon. 4. Sex Hormone-Induced Cholestasis; C. Tiribelli, S. Bellentani. 5. Do all Pathways of Cholestasis Lead to the Canaliculus? I.M. Arias. 6. Prolactin and Bile Secretory Function; M. Vore, et al. 7. Regulatory Pathway of Bile Acid Synthesis: Modulation by Steroid Hormones and Cytokines; N.B. Javitt. 8. Progesterone Metabolism in Normal Human Pregnancy and in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy; L.J. Meng, et al. Section III: Sex Hormones and Liver Diseases in Childhood. 9. Cholestatic Disorders in Childhood; G. Gregorio, et al. 10. The Liver - the Next Frontier in the Treatment of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis; W.F. Balistreri. 11. Microvesicular Fatty Liver Disorders: Inborn Defects of Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Oxidation? W.R. Treem. 12. Total Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Cholestasis: Infection as the Principal Risk Factor in Infants Beyond the First Month of Life; T.R. Da Silveira. Section IV: Liver Diseases in Pregnancy. 13. Pregnancy in Chronic Liver Disease; R.E. Kirsch, et al. 14. Female Sex Hormones and Primary Biliary Cirrhosis; M. Podda, et al. 15. Pre-eclampsia and the Liver; C.A. Riely. 16. Cholestasis of Pregnancy; J. Ribalta, et al. 17. Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy; S. Sherlock. Section V: Bile Acids as Therapeutic Agents in Liver Diseases Influenced by Sex Hormones. 18. Effects of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Experimental and Human Cholestasis; A. Stiehl. 19. Possible Mode of Action of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in the Treatment of Cholestatic Liver Diseases; U. Leuschner. 20. Ursodeoxycholic Acid Therapy in Cholestasis of Pregnancy; J. Palma, et al. Section VI: Presentation of Selected Poster Abstracts. Section VII: Biological, Epidemiological and Therapeutical Implications of Sex Hormones on Liver Diseases. 21. Sex Hormones and Liver Tumors; K. Okuda. 22. Pregnancy and Gallstones; J.C. Glasinovic, et al. 23. Hepatobiliary Surgery During Pregnancy; S.M. Strasberg, et al. 24. Pregnancy After Liver Transplantation; V. Balan, J. Rakela. Concluding Remarks; U. Leuschner. Final Comments; H. Reyes. Ode to the Liver. Index.
Summary
Pregnancy is the main determinant of some liver diseases in humans: acute fatty liver of pregnancy, cholestasis of pregnancy, and acute liver failure in toxaemia of pregnancy.
