Pediatric Liver (Hepatology) Disease Center

Our center brings together pediatric hepatologists (liver experts) and other specialists to help children with a range of different liver conditions. The experience on our team, combined with advanced tools and techniques, makes our center one of the most specialized pediatric liver centers in the country.

We treat liver conditions of all kinds and severity. This includes fatty liver disease, the most common liver disease in the U.S. Fatty liver disease affects 1 in 10 children, and is even more common among children with obesity. We provide expert diagnosis, including the use of noninvasive ways to assess the amount of fat in the liver and the extent of liver disease. We offer our patients with fatty liver disease complete care that includes diet and lifestyle support from registered dietitians as well as emotional help from specialized psychologists.

Other liver conditions that we can treat includes congenital liver disease, biliary atresia and autoimmune liver disease.

For children who need a new liver, our transplant program is the only local provider to offer pediatric liver transplant. We have performed transplants for children from all across the state and neighboring states. Our outcomes are consistently better than the national average. Our hepatologists have special training to care for patients with liver transplants.

Hepatologists and other specialists working side by side

Every patient at our center is seen by a board-certified pediatric hepatologist or gastroenterologist who specializes in liver disease. Many pediatric hospitals don’t have experts like these on their team, making our center one of the most specialized in the country.

Our liver experts are also surrounded by a range of other specialists who are often necessary to care for complex liver conditions. These specialists include:

• Experts in other parts the body that may be affected by liver disease, such as the heart, kidney and blood

• Psychologists, dietitians and social workers, who help with various clinical, emotional and social aspects of managing liver disease

• Experts in advanced endoscopy and radiology techniques that provide less-invasive ways of diagnosing and treating liver diseases

These specialists all work together as one team to give you and your child the full care and support you need.

Advanced treatments and research

Our teams use the latest technology and methods to diagnose and treat liver conditions. These include tools like ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography to view the liver for scarring or other damage. They also include skilled procedures like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). This is a way of fixing bleeding in the esophagus caused by liver disease by using a minimally invasive technique instead of making an incision in the abdomen.

Our center is involved in multiple clinical trials to help advance the world’s approach to liver disease even further. One day, these may lead to new treatments that help children and babies overcome liver failure or manage pruritus (severe itchiness) and other difficult symptoms caused by liver disease.