SCIENTISTS in the region have made a breakthrough discovery that could bring hope to thousands of dying liver patients.

Researchers at Newcastle University have shown that a drug currently used to treat high blood pressure – Losartan – can reverse the effects of early-stage liver failure in some patients.

If the trial can be replicated in a bigger study, it could open the way to the first effective treatment for early-stage liver failure, other than by transplant surgery.

The scientists made their discovery as a result of a collaboration with colleagues in Barcelona.

The Newcastle team analysed the results of a small drug trial involving 14 Spanish patients with Hepatitis C.

The illness was at an advanced stage, causing scarring of the liver and which would normally have progressed to liver failure.

Half of the patients in the trial saw the scars in their liver shrink, allowing the organ to repair itself.

Now the North-East researchers are planning a large, multi-centre drug trial in the UK to see if they can replicate the results of the Spanish trial.

Professor Derek Mann, of Newcastle University, said: “At the moment, we have no proven effective way of treating people with chronic liver disease, other than transplantation.

This early stage trial has shown that we can shrink liver scarring in some patients and shows promise for a treatment that could make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of people.”

The team, whose work is published today in the medical journal Gastroenterology, said the larger studies would initially involve patients with liver disease caused by obesity, and then illness caused by alcohol, hereditary and autoimmune diseases.

Prof Mann said results of the trial, funded by the Medical Research Council and British Liver Trust, were “very promising” and could bring hope to many patients.

“The numbers with liver disease are rocketing, caused by cheap booze, viruses and obesity,” he said. “At the moment, there is absolutely nothing you can do for patients other than a transplant, and there are extremely few livers available.

“I would hope, if all goes well, the drug could be available on the NHS in five years.”

Imogen Shillito, of the British Liver Trust, said: “We are very excited about this research, particularly because it is so desperately needed for people with advanced liver disease for which there is a pretty bleak outlook.”

People with liver disease caused by being overweight, through fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, who are interested in taking part in a future clinical trial, are asked to leave their details on 0191-223-1900.