Patient Care At the Division of Hepatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, we know that liver disease can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life. The liver is a vital organ that filters toxins from the blood and performs hundreds of other important daily functions. When the liver is not working well, it can affect the rest of the body. Conversely, other conditions can affect the liver so a patient experiencing gallbladder or bile duct problems may benefit from seeking a liver specialist for care. For patients with early-stage liver disease, their condition may be managed with medications, counseling, and monitoring. Those who progress to advanced liver disease or liver cancer require advanced liver care and potentially a liver transplant. We offer complete, state-of-the-art care for all types of liver problems, including liver cancer, combined with a dedication to treatment innovations and a commitment to educating our patients and their families. We work closely with a group of specialists who treat patients with liver and bile duct diseases or liver cancer, including surgeons who perform liver/bile duct surgeries or liver transplants at Montefiore. We also provide specialized service to our hospitalized patients at Montefiore who suffer acute or severe liver conditions. Our experienced liver specialists provide a full range of treatments, including medications, interventional therapies, and minimally invasive surgeries that are not widely available elsewhere. We are also national leaders in liver transplantation, including living donor liver transplant, with one of the best transplant center outcomes in the nation. What causes liver disease? There are many different causes of liver disease including: Excessive alcohol use or drug abuse. Hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. Autoimmune disorders. Congenital problems, meaning you are born with a liver disorder. Genetic conditions that predispose a patient to a liver problem. Fatty liver disease in the setting of diabetes, obesity, and/or high cholesterol/triglycerides. What We Treat Our teams provide care for every type and stage of liver and bile duct disorder, including: Acute liver failure Autoimmune hepatitis Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) Cirrhosis of the liver Fatty liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Gallstones and other gallbladder diseases Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hepatitis D Liver and bile duct cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma) Portal hypertension, high pressure in your liver Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) Primary (PSC) and secondary sclerosing cholangitis Pediatric conditions, like biliary atresia Signs & Symptoms of Liver Problem Liver diseases often do not show symptoms until the disease becomes more advanced. Often your primary care doctor will test your blood to screen for liver diseases or viral hepatitis. The type of liver disease and how advanced it is will determine if you have any symptoms. The most common symptoms include: Pain in the right upper abdomen. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes). Itchy skin. Swelling of the abdomen. Change in the color of the urine and/or stool. Fatigue (feeling tired). Nausea with or without vomiting. Loss of appetite. Feeling confused/disoriented. Blood in the stool. Advanced Diagnostic Techniques Liver diseases can mimic other illnesses, so an accurate diagnosis is necessary. It is also important to determine the presence and amount of scarring (if any). Our practice uses all available diagnostic tools to diagnose your liver disease, including liver biopsy, interventional endoscopic procedures, and imaging tests. We also use non-invasive technologies to safely estimate your scarring, such as Fibroscan® and magnetic resonance elastography. Ranging from routine bloodwork to sophisticated imaging or procedures, patients can schedule at multiple locations with our group at Montefiore. Our Approach to Care Our liver care teams include hepatologists (liver doctors), gastroenterologists, interventional endoscopists, liver surgeons, medical oncologists, infectious disease specialists, nurses and nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered dietitians, psychiatrists and psychologists, social workers, and others with extensive experience caring for people with liver disease. Many of our team members can see patients at several locations but maintain a coordinated patient-centered care experience at Montefiore. Additional Services for Patients with Liver Disease In addition to medical treatment and surgery, we also offer advanced procedures such as: Interventional endoscopy. Procedures focused on treating many liver and bile duct conditions can now be managed with an expert advanced endoscopist. These procedures include: Endoscopic ultrasound, including biopsy. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to image the biliary system and treat bile duct blockages. Interventional radiology. Our team of specialist radiologists perform the most up-to-date techniques to diagnose and treat multiple liver conditions, including biliary obstruction, portal hypertension, and liver cancer. Liver transplantation. Our surgeons at Montefiore Einstein Center for Transplantation have performed more than 550 liver transplants. They use a variety of approaches, including living donor liver transplantation to extend the limits of organ transplantation and provide the greatest number of transplants possible. Our team also cares for pediatric patients with liver disease and also offer transplantation services. A Commitment to Research and Education We are committed to expanding liver and bile duct care through ongoing research and clinical trials, including our current investigations into a means of providing an earlier diagnosis of liver disease and prevention of worsening liver function. We consistently enhance and share our knowledge through our close affiliation with Albert Einstein College of Medicine and our respected gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship program. Why choose us The Division of Hepatology at Montefiore Einstein is dedicated to helping patients with liver, gallbladder, or bile duct disease. We are proud to be the primary teaching health system for Bronx County and have numerous locations in the tri-state area that allow patients easier access. Patients who come to Montefiore Einstein benefit from the expertise of renowned physicians and surgeons, the use of advanced therapies, and a personalized patient-centered approach to care. We treat all types of liver, gallbladder, or bile duct diseases, and all stages of disease, and provide state-of-the-art interventional care. Patients have access to an excellent transplant center with some of the best outcomes in the nation. Contact us today for an appointment to learn how we can help you. Contact Us 1-888-RX-LIVER 1-844-438-2434
