Liver disease is now the fifth commonest cause of death in the United Kingdom and the
incidence is increasing. Chronic injury to the liver typically due to toxic insult, viral infection,
immunological or metabolic diseases usually results in a stereotypical response with both
parenchymal regeneration and wound healing. Chronic hepatic injury results in liver fibrosis
with eventual progression to cirrhosis and end stage liver disease. At this point the majority
of the clinical complications arise such as portal hypertension and the development of liver …