Organ TransplantGastroenterology

Liver Transplant Program

(415) 353-1888

Liver transplant offers patients with end-stage liver disease a second chance at life. The UCSF Liver Transplant Program has made this chance possible for nearly 4,000 patients since its founding in 1998.

Our program, designated a center of excellence by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is known for outstanding outcomes and for helping pioneer techniques to make transplantation safer and more successful. We perform transplants using both deceased and living donors, and are able to perform complex transplants on patients with complicating health conditions, such as portal vein thrombosis. Our team also created new criteria for transplanting liver cancer patients, which are now used in transplant centers across the world and have allowed more patients to become eligible for transplant.

Each patient's treatment team includes surgeons, hepatologists, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, dietitians and social workers. Liver transplant pathologists and interventional radiologists also help accurately diagnose and manage liver disease and liver cancer progression before transplant. Our dedicated transplant unit is staffed by nurses and other providers who specialize in caring for liver transplant patients.

Download our new patient handbook (PDF).

Our Outcomes

UCSF's adult liver transplant patients have a one-year survival rate that consistently exceeds the national average, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). In SRTR's most recent reporting period, our liver transplant recipients had a survival rate of 93.48 percent one year after transplant, compared with a national average of 92.82 percent, and an expected survival rate – meaning the predicted survival rate based on variables indicating how sick or healthy our recipients are – of 92.47 percent.

More outcomes data is available from SRTR and from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

Doctor referral required

Our locations

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    Patient education

    After Living Liver Donor Surgery

    Learn what to expect following Living Liver Donor Surgery, including length of hospitalization, scarring, pain management, when you can eat and more.

    Background on Living Liver Donors

    Are you interested in becoming a liver donor? Learn how to qualify, about the process including, blood type, evaluation, and the chances of success.

    Becoming a Living Donor

    There are two types of organ transplants capable of using living donors: liver transplants and kidney transplants. Learn more about how to become a donor now.

    Evaluation to be a Living Liver Donor

    Find frequently asked questions regarding evaluation for becoming a living liver donor including, the purpose of the evaluation process and more.

    FAQ: Getting a Liver Transplant

    Find commonly asked questions regarding getting a liver transplant including, who gets priority, whether there's a way to expedite the process, and more.

    Liver Transplant Glossary

    Use this Liver Transplant Glossary to help you understand some of the esoteric language and terms including, Angiogram, Echocardiogram, Sclerotherapy, and more.

    Living Donor Liver Transplant: The Facts

    In the U.S., there are over 17,000 patients on the liver waiting list, but only enough donated livers to perform about 5,000 transplants per year. Learn more.

    Conditions we treat

    Our team

    Decorative Caduceus

    Functional Assessment in Liver Transplantation

    This will be a prospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis who are listed for liver transplantation. Subjects will undergo geriatric assessments of frailty, functional status, and disability using functional ...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Pancreatic Islets and Parathyroid Gland Co-transplantation for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

    The primary objective is to test the hypothesis that co-transplantation of allogeneic PTG with adult pancreatic islets (derived from same deceased donor) in the IM site in people with Type 1 diabetes with functioning...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    HOPE in Action Prospective Multicenter, Clinical Trial of Deceased HIVD+ Kidney Transplants for...

    The primary objective of this study is to determine if an HIV-infected deceased kidney donor (HIVD+) transplant is safe with regards to major transplant-related and HIV-related complications.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Impact of CCR5 Blockade in HIV+ Kidney Transplant Recipients

    Maraviroc (MVC) is a type of HIV medicine called a CCR5 inhibitor. This study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of MVC in HIV-infected adults receiving a kidney transplant.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Obeticholic Acid in Subjects With Compensated Cirrh...

    The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether obeticholic acid (OCA; INT-747) can lead to histological improvement in fibrosis with no worsening of NASH in adults with compensated cirrhosis due to NASH.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications of Microarrays in Liver Transplantation

    INTERLIVER is a prospective observational study of the relationship of the molecular phenotype of 300 liver transplant biopsies to the histologic phenotype and the clinical features and outcomes. A segment of a biops...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    A Cohort Study of Operationally Tolerant Allograft Recipients

    Antirejection medicines, also known as immunosuppressive drugs, are prescribed to organ transplant recipients to prevent their bodies from rejecting the new organ. Some organ transplant recipients can stop taking ant...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Treatment of Type I Diabetes by Islet Transplantation Into the Gastric Submucosa Study Protocol

    The goal of this trial is to gain initial clinical experience regarding the safety and efficacy of treating type I diabetes in people who have received a kidney transplant by transplanting islets into a new transplan...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Preventive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Trial in Kidney Transplant Recipients

    This trial studies whether the nonavalent human papillomavirus vaccine given to adults prior to kidney transplantation can help the body build and maintain an effective immune response during the post-transplant peri...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    A Multi-Center Trial to Study Acute Liver Failure in Adults

    The purpose of this study is to collect clinical and epidemiological data as well as serum, plasma, urine, tissue and DNA samples on individuals who have acute liver failure and on individuals who have acute liver in...

    Recruiting

    Awards & recognition

    • usnews-neurology

      Best hospital in Northern California

    • Seal_of_the_United_States_Department_of_Health_and_Human_Services-2x

      Designated center of excellence

    • n1-2x

      in the West for number of living donor liver transplants performed

    • n2-2x

      in the U.S. for number of liver transplants performed

    Support services

    Patient Resource

    Case Management and Social Work

    Connect with a team that can help you find resources, solve problems and advocate for you during treatment at UCSF.

    Class

    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class

    This eight-week UCSF class teaches mindfulness practices, such as meditation and body awareness, that can reduce stress and improve your overall health.

    Support Group

    Organ Transplant Support Groups

    The UCSF Heart Transplant/LVAD Support Group offers peer-based support for heart transplant patients and patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).

    Patient Resource

    Patient Relations

    We welcome feedback about your experience at UCSF Health. Find out how to contact us with comments, questions or concerns.

    Patient Resource

    Spiritual Care Services

    Chaplains representing many faiths are available around the clock to provide support, comfort and counsel to patients, families and caregivers. Learn more.

    International Services

    If you live in another country and are coming to UCSF for medical
    treatment, our patient liaisons can help coordinate all aspects of your visit.

    Learn more

    Interpreters

    UCSF offers language services at no charge for patients with limited
    English, as well as for patients who are deaf or have trouble hearing.

    Learn more

    Hospital Stays

    Checking into the hospital? Find helpful information by clicking on the relevant “Your Hospital Stay” booklet: Mission Bay, Parnassus or Mount
    Zion.

    Learn more
    10 ways to get the most from your doctor visit

    Your Doctor Visit

    See our top 10 tips for making your UCSF doctor’s appointment as stress-free and productive as possible.

    Learn more
    Preparing for your appointment

    What to Bring

    • Photo I.D.
    • Health insurance card
    • Insurance authorization, if required
    • Doctor's referral, if required
    • Recent test results related to your condition
    • List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
    • List of questions you may have
    • Device or paper for taking notes

    Guides and forms

    Related clinics

    High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic

    1701 Divisadero St., Third Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94143-0316

    (415) 353-7878

    Liver Disease and Liver Transplant

    350 Parnassus Ave., Suite 300
    San Francisco, CA 94143

    (415) 353-2318
    M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    Liver Transplant at Fremont

    1900 Mowry Ave., Suite 1
    Fremont, CA 94538

    (415) 353-1888

    Liver Transplant at Fresno

    2335 E. Kashian Lane, Suite 220
    Fresno, CA 93701

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    Liver Transplant at Modesto

    1444 Florida Ave., Suite 100
    Modesto, CA 95350

    (415) 353-1888

    Liver Transplant at Santa Clara

    751 S. Bascom Ave.
    San Jose, CA 95128

    (415) 353-1888

    Liver Transplant at Walnut Creek

    1450 Treat Blvd., Suite 250B
    Walnut Creek, CA 94597

    (415) 353-1888

    Our research initiatives

    • UCSF-Division-of-Transplant-Surgery-Research-2x

      UCSF Division of Transplant Surgery Research

      The UCSF Division of Transplant Surgery conducts research aimed at expanding medication options, refining surgical techniques and improving methods of preventing transplant rejection.

      Learn more

    Do you need pediatric care?

    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco
    UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals

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    (888) 689-8273
    [email protected]

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