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Liver Disease and Transplantation

Conditions

Many patients can be treated successfully with nonsurgical methods and never require a transplant. Whatever treatment plan is required, Einstein uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, technology, medication and best practice intervention techniques to provide the best possible outcomes in treating kidney, liver and pancreatic diseases. In addition, our active clinical and surgical research programs help advance our understanding of diseases in order to provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatment.

Learn here about the many different treatments Einstein offers for these conditions.

Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Also known as hepatic steatosis, fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat builds in the liver. The resulting inflammation causes scarring and eventually leads to cirrhosis. Excessive drinking may cause alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). If a patient is not a heavy drinker, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be caused by genetics or nutrition-related issues. The World Journal of Gastroenterology reports that NAFLD affects 25-30% of people in the United States and Europe.

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ALD)

The human liver can process one alcoholic beverage per hour. Heavy or binge drinkers are defined as those having more than five drinks (men) or four drinks (women) at one sitting. This level of alcohol consumption puts a strain on the liver's ability to function properly and destroys liver cells. As those cells die, the liver forms scar tissue. In time, the resulting damage, known as cirrhosis, prevents the liver from filtering harmful chemicals and producing the proteins the body needs.

Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the liver. It's caused by a virus that results in cell damage and destruction, and in the cases of hepatitis B, C and D, put patients at greater risk of developing liver cancer.

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare condition characterized by a swelling of the liver. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks the cells of the liver. Current treatments include autoimmune suppressant medications and liver transplant.

Drug Induced Liver Injury

Drug Induced Liver Injury is inflammation of the liver that is caused by prolonged or excessive exposure to alcohol, drugs, prescription and over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements, workplace chemicals or solvents. It affects every person differently and is therefore at times difficult to diagnose. Symptoms may sometimes go away once exposure stops. If irreversible scarring has already occurred, the condition could lead to liver failure.

End-Stage Liver Disease

The function of the liver is to filter blood coming from the digestive tract of any toxic chemicals and metabolize any drugs. When disease, lifestyle contributors or genetic predispositions overtax the liver, scar tissue (cirrhosis) forms. The resulting liver disease takes years to progress. When the liver's function is near failure, end-stage liver disease, also known as chronic liver failure, causes symptoms that include yellowing of the skin (jaundice), abdominal pain and swelling, change in appetite, dark urine, itchy skin and chronic fatigue.

Tumors & Liver Cancer

Liver cancers are the growth of malignant cells that spread in the liver. Some causes of liver cancer include issues relating to a birth defect, chronic infections like hepatitis B or C, alcohol abuse, cirrhosis or hemochromatosis.

High-Risk and Complex Liver Disease

High-risk and complex liver disease occurs when genetics, lifestyle or illness cause severe scarring (cirrhosis) to the liver. That scar tissue prevents the liver from performing its normal functions - namely, to filter out waste and toxins from the digestive processes.

Fibrosis & Cirrhosis

Fibrosis occurs when scar tissue from inflammation forms on the surface of the liver. As the scarring progresses, the liver begins to fail, and the diagnosis changes to cirrhosis. It's a gradual disease that, over time, diminishes the liver's ability to effectively process waste and nutrients through the body.

How can we help you?

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Call us: 1-800-Einstein

Advanced Liver Disease & Transplantation Resources

Getting a Chance at Life (Twice)

Training & Education

At Einstein, we have clinical expertise in all core domains of organ disease and transplantation and are actively invested in resident education.


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