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©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
Liver diseases in developing countries
Francesca Cainelli, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, PO Box 00713, Gaborone, Botswana
Author contributions: Cainelli F conceived and wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Francesca Cainelli, MD, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, PO Box 00713, Gaborone, Botswana. cainellifrancesca@gmail.com
Telephone: +267-3554563 Fax: +267-3105979
Received: February 28, 2011
Revised: November 9, 2011
Accepted: November 16, 2011
Published online: March 27, 2012
Revised: November 9, 2011
Accepted: November 16, 2011
Published online: March 27, 2012
Abstract
Liver diseases are an important and largely neglected health issue in low and middle income countries, which carry the highest burden. In this Topic Highlight, experts review hepatitis B and E, alcoholic liver disease, hepatic diseases in human immunodeficiency virus -infected individuals, hepatocellular carcinoma. Numerous gaps in our knowledge that need to be filled are outlined and feasible solutions to the several problems related to diagnosis and management of liver diseases in developing countries are suggested.