Healthchat | Rare but Real: The Alagille Syndrome Story

Welcome to HealthChat on this special edition for Rare Diseases Day 2025. Today, we're shining a light on rare paediatric liver diseases, a group of conditions that often go unrecognised and misdiagnosed.

One such disease is Alagille Syndrome (ALGS)—a complex and often misunderstood disorder affecting the liver, heart, and other systems. To help us unpack the challenges of diagnosing and managing ALGS, we’re joined by Dr Marisca Baretta, a Paediatric Hepatologist at Wits University’s Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

Dr Baretta will walk us through why ALGS is frequently overlooked, how it impacts young patients, and what can be done to improve early detection and care.

Stay with us as we explore the realities of rare liver diseases and what they mean for patients, families, and healthcare providers.

 

Practitioner Resources:

Paediatric Liver & Transplant Services South Africa 

Childhood Liver Disease

American Liver Foundation

 

Accreditation Information:

This activity is for healthcare practitioners in South and sub-Saharan African.

You can find more information & the accredited questionnaire here.