Review
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2008; 14(29): 4607-4615
Published online Aug 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.4607
Chronic liver disease in Aboriginal North Americans
John D Scott, Naomi Garland
John D Scott, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98144, United States
Naomi Garland, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98144, United States
Author contributions: Scott JD designed research, analyzed and synthesized data and wrote the paper; Garland N performed literature review and synthesized data.
Correspondence to: Dr. John D Scott, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359938, Seattle WA 98144, United States. jdscott@u.washington.edu
Telephone: +1+206-7313393
Fax: +1-206-7315515
Received: May 6, 2008
Revised: May 28, 2008
Accepted: June 4, 2008
Published online: August 7, 2008
Abstract

A structured literature review was performed to detail the frequency and etiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) in Aboriginal North Americans. CLD affects Aboriginal North Americans disproportionately and is now one of the most common causes of death. Alcoholic liver disease is the leading etiology of CLD, but viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C, is an important and growing cause of CLD. High rates of autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are reported in regions of coastal British Columbia and southeastern Alaska. Non-alcoholic liver disease is a common, but understudied, cause of CLD. Future research should monitor the incidence and etiology of CLD and should be geographically inclusive. In addition, more research is needed on the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in this population.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis B virus; American Indian; Alaska Native; Chronic liver disease