Liver Disease

The liver, the largest of the internal organs, essentially monitors all materials absorbed from the diet, converting nutrients to useable form and eliminating potential toxins. It also produces a number of substances essential for life.

The causes of liver disease range from viruses to gene mutations to environmental factors including medications and alcohol. These diseases typically progress slowly because the organ has a large capacity and can regenerate. These conditions, however, can reach the stage of cirrhosis and in some instances, acute liver failure, which requires urgent evaluation at a transplant center.

At UCSF Medical Center, liver disease specialists work as a team to provide the best possible care for adults with a wide range of liver disorders, including inherited and acquired diseases. Our liver disease experts specialize in the evaluation and treatment of the following conditions:

• Viral Hepatitis, including A, B, C, D and E
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Toxic Hepatitis and Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Cirrhosis
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, also known as steatohepatitis
• Hemochromatosis
• Hepatic Porphyria
• Liver Cancer

We also offer the most advanced treatments for liver diseases, including transplantation. For many patients with acute or chronic end-stage liver disease, transplantation may be the only option. The UCSF Liver Transplant Program,which integrates the efforts of gastroenterologists and surgeons, performs over 100 transplants each year, making it one of the leading programs in the U.S. Survival statistics are among the very best in the country.

In addition to providing excellent care, our experts also are involved in a number of federally funded research studies investigating liver disease and possible new treatments.

For information or to make an appointment, please call:
Liver Clinic at (415) 353-2318

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated August 29, 2007