Methods Of Treating Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Liver Transplant

Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the systems they affect, a liver transplant may be a necessary treatment option. Though the initial tumors form outside the liver, it's common for the growths to spread to the liver. The tumors are cancerous and malignant. Once they've spread to the liver, the overall condition becomes harder to treat due to the multiple organ systems affected. A transplant involves the removal of the diseased liver. A healthy liver from a donor is then transplanted. Most patients will only need a lobe from a living donor rather than a whole liver from a deceased donor. Liver transplants are typically recommended when the liver is too damaged to function properly. Some patients may struggle to qualify for transplant lists when multiple systems are affected by the tumors.

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Medication To Treat Excess Acid

Though it can be difficult to treat the cancerous aspects of the disease, a patient can nearly always find medication to treat excess acid. There are a few different medications that may help. The first ones recommended tend to be proton pump inhibitors, which block the acid-secreting cells from pumping out excess acid. However, long-term use of these medications may make a patient more susceptible to bone fractures.

Another medication option is to use medications that mimic the natural hormone somatostatin. When introduced to the body, the medicine has been shown to counteract the physical effects of gastrin in some patients. Excess acid contributes to the majority of uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms patients experience, and though it's a byproduct of the underlying illness rather than a disease by itself, it must be managed for an ideal quality of life.

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