About the podcast series
The incidence of liver disease in the UK is increasing and it is important that healthcare professionals are equipped to manage patients with liver disease. Nine out of ten cases of liver disease can be prevented and healthcare professionals are well placed to make interventions and provide advice to reduce these risks.
This podcast series has been developed in collaboration with the British Hepatology Pharmacy Group.
Liver disease
Kieran Reynolds talks to Sital Shah, Consultant Hepatology Pharmacist, in our introductory podcast about liver disease. Discussion includes the functions of the liver, difference between liver disease and liver impairment, liver blood tests and how to classify severity of cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).
Further information
British Liver Trust patient information about the liver
NHS conditions article about liver disease
British Liver Trust information about liver blood tests
Cirrhosis
Kieran Reynolds talks to Naz Kanani Alviri, Principal Pharmacist, Hepatology & Liver Transplantation, about liver cirrhosis. Discussion includes what cirrhosis is and how it is diagnosed, the difference between compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, complications of decompensated cirrhosis and initiatives being undertaken to improve the earlier diagnosis of liver disease.
Further information
SPS article about calculating and using the Child-Pugh score
British Association for the Study of the Liver position statement about prescribing weight-adjusted oral paracetamol in adults (available under Resources)
NHS England news article about mobile liver testing scheme
Drugs in liver impairment
Kieran Reynolds talks to Aimee Francisco, Advanced Specialist Gastroenterology Pharmacist and primary care lead at the British Hepatology Pharmacy Group about drugs in liver impairment. Discussion includes key issues to consider when prescribing in liver disease, medicines to avoid (or use with caution) in liver disease, drug induced liver injury and herbal medicines.
Further information
British Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines for symptom control in adults with advanced liver disease (available under Resources)
British Association for the Study of the Liver position statement about prescribing weight-adjusted oral paracetamol in adults (available under Resources)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s About Herbs database
Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Kieran Reynolds talks to Arron Jones, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist about metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Discussion includes what MASLD/MASH stands for, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment; including advice to give to patients accessing GLP-1 RAs online, and emerging therapies.
Further information
SPS article on using statins in liver impairment
The British Liver Trust’s information on MASLD, NAFLD and fatty liver disease
The General Pharmaceutical Council’s FAQs on weight loss medications (including a guide for patients on how to keep safe when getting medicines or treatment online: scroll to bottom of page to access)
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
Kieran Reynolds talks to Sonal Patel, Lead Hepatology Pharmacist about autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Discussion includes what AIH is, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and how pharmacy professionals can contribute to the management of patients with AIH.
Further information
SPS article on assessing liver function and interpreting liver blood tests
NHS information about prednisolone
NHS information about budesonide
NHS information about azathioprine
The Society of Endocrinology information on adrenal crisis
The Green Book: information on vaccines for vaccine preventable diseases
The British Liver Trust’s information on autoimmune hepatitis
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
Kieran Reynolds talks to Yun Jung Kim, Senior Specialist Pharmacist in Hepatology about primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Discussion includes what PBC is, symptoms (and symptom control), diagnosis, treatment and how pharmacy professionals can contribute to the management of patients with PBC.
Further information
The British Liver Trust’s information on primary biliary cholangitis
The British Liver Trust’s information on diagnosing primary biliary cholangitis
The British Liver Trust’s information on treating primary biliary cholangitis
The British Society of Gastroenterology primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) care bundle
Update history
- Three episodes published: Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
- Links updated to improve accessibility
- Published