Genetic variations may increase the risk of severe liver damage in Caucasians with chronic hepatitis B infection a new study has found. If left untreated chronic infections can lead to liver injury liver cancer and liver failure with more than one million deaths attributed to cirrhosis and cancer each year. Researchers from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research found that Caucasian patients with a variation in their STAT4 gene were more likely to experience inflammation and severe liver fibrosis. Author of the study Dr. Rasha El Sharkawy saidThe findings add to the growing body of evidence that demonstrates a link
