Made in Chelsea's Sam Vanderpump has revealed that he's suffering with end stage liver disease - but what does that mean for the reality star?
The TV personality revealed in last night's episode of the long-running series about affluent young families in London that he was struggling with his health.
What has Sam Vanderpump said about his health?
Speaking to his co-star Ollie Locke, Vanderpump, who also suffered from sepsis last Christmas, confirmed that he'd been diagnosed with end-stage liver disease and that there is 'no hope of my liver getting better'.
He also suggested that without a transplant, doctors have claimed his life expectancy would be five years or less, which is all the more tragic as he also recently confirmed he was about to become a father for the first time after fiancée Alice Yaxley fell pregnant.
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On the E4 show, he said: "There is no hope of my liver getting better and he said, 'I wouldn't be having this call with you if I thought you could make it through the next four or five years.' They're sending me for liver transplant assessment."
However, it seems as if he is remaining positive as he still feels healthy at this point, and he hopes that will remain the case until he is able to sort out a transplant.
Waiting lists for transplants in the UK are often notoriously long and if a suitable donor cannot be found, then the disease could easily prove fatal.
What are the symptoms of end-stage liver disease?
Symptoms often don't present themselves until the disease reaches a later stage, when something called cirrhosis of the liver occurs.
This is permanent scarring of the organ which leads to issues with functionality and potentially liver failure, while it can also impact your other organs.
At this point, symptoms will likely include weight loss, fatigue, nausea and potentially even jaundice, which is where the skin turns yellow.
If the liver is no longer functioning, then it won't be able to filter toxins from your blood as easily, which can easily prove fatal if left untreated and no transplant is arranged.
What are the causes of liver disease?
Alcohol misuse is believed to be one of the main causes of liver disease, with obesity and untreated hepatitis also among the common starting points.
There are over 100 different types of liver disease but they all fall into the same few subtypes, with the use of intravenous drugs, exposure to toxic chemicals and metabolic syndrome all thought to be contributing factors.
Fortunately, if you're concerned about potentially having issues with your liver, a doctor has suggested that there are four easy things you can do at home to test yourself.
They include having yellow-tinted skin, darker urine, swelling around your midsection and pale or clay-coloured stools.
Topics: Health, Celebrity News
James Moorhouse