Health News

Cirrhosis Survival Spiked
Good news for cirrhosis patients: Survival may be much more common than it once was.
The Gift of Life: Transplants Save Many, More Still Needed
Organ transplants have been saving lives for years. And as the need for transplants grows, so does the need for donors.
Periodontal Disease May Raise Risk of Kidney Disease
Healthy gums make for a winning smile, but poor gum health may lead to other health problems. A new study suggests that periodontal disease in blacks might increase their risk for chronic kidney disease.
Kidney Disease Changes Gut Flora
As many as 1,000 different species of bacteria live in your gut. These bacteria play a large role in fending off disease. Now, research suggests kidney disease can change the makeup of these bacteria.
Improving Hearts Before Transplant
When patients are awaiting a life-saving kidney or liver transplant, their failing organs are not the only thing they need to worry about; many of these patients also have heart problems.
Kidney Failure's Bleeding Risk
Kidney disease puts people at risk for a number of related health complications. As their kidneys start to fail, some patients may even bleed from their stomach or intestines, a problem that may need more attention.
Celebrating an Organ Donor Milestone
One major roadblock of getting organ transplants for patients is finding people who are willing to donate. Now, the donation and transplant community is celebrating a long-awaited turn in the right direction.
Weight Loss Drug Doesn't Work
Some obese people take weight-loss drugs to help deal with their health problem. One of these drugs, orlistat, may be harmful.  The drug already carries a black box warning for liver damage, which the FDA added last year.
Banning HIV Organ Donation
Researchers from Johns Hopkins believe that a law banning HIV patients from donating their organs to living HIV-positive patients is outdated. If the ban were reversed, hundreds of HIV-positive patients who need an organ could get their transplant within months instead of years.
A Better Kidney Measurement
In a new study, researchers argue that the current way for diagnosing kidney failure in patients with cirrhosis is not accurate enough. Their results show that measures used by the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) may offer more precise results.