Hepatology

Knowledge of diseases of the liver has grown over the last decade, and optimal care requires the specialized training of the hepatologists at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). They are dedicated to staying abreast of advances in the field and participate in national studies to assess the benefits of newer therapies and technologies.

Conditions we treat

There are a host of diseases that can adversely affect the liver, often causing inflammation and compromising liver function. The spectrum of liver disease we address at LVHN includes:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
• Viral hepatitis including hepatitis A, B and C
• Autoimmune liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Medication-induced liver disease
• Cirrhosis and its complications including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and variceal bleeding
• Alcohol-related liver disease
• Hemochromatosis
• Wilson’s disease (a rare, inherited condition that causes copper levels to build up in several organs, especially the liver, brain and eyes)
• Genetic liver diseases
• Liver masses or tumors

Liver disease symptoms

A football-sized organ that sits in the upper right portion of your abdomen, your liver can affect your entire body if it becomes diseased or damaged. Liver disease can be inherited (genetic) or caused by factors such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity. Over time, liver damage causes scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure. Common symptoms surrounding liver cancer and liver disease include:

• Loss of weight without trying
• General weakness and fatigue
• Yellowish discoloration of skin or of the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tendency to bruise easily
• Dark urine
• Pale stool color or tarlike bloody stool
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Swelling of the lower extremities

Preventing liver disease

Some preventive measures for liver disease include drinking alcohol in moderation, maintaining a healthy weight, using caution with chemicals, being vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, and using a safe, clean tattoo or piercing provider.

Nonsurgical testing

We utilize FibroScan® testing, an FDA-approved, noninvasive diagnostic device, to measure liver scarring or fibrosis caused by several liver diseases. FibroScan is quick and painless and can be done in our office setting. It provides a nonsurgical alternative to the traditional liver biopsy to assess liver damage.

Liver transplants

Should you be a candidate for a liver transplant, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence offers the region’s only transplant program offering liver transplantation in addition to kidney and pancreas transplants. Staffed by a specially trained, advanced transplant hepatology team, LVHN is the comprehensive liver transplant center for the Lehigh Valley, providing liver care to patients with liver disease/failure and liver cancer.