Liver Disease

The Henry Ford Liver Disease Center is one of the largest and most respected in Michigan and the nation. We treat the full range of liver conditions, from fatty liver disease and hepatitis to cirrhosis and liver cancer. You receive the latest treatments, access to clinical trials that aren’t available elsewhere and compassionate care from an expert team.

At Henry Ford, we treat the full spectrum of liver conditions:

• Acute liver failure
• Alcohol-related liver disease
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Viral hepatitis
• Cholestatic liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• Liver cancer
• Autoimmune liver diseases
• Noncancerous liver tumors
• Liver disease in pregnancy

Leading liver specialists: Why choose Henry Ford?

Thousands of people turn to us each year for our expertise with common and complex liver diseases. At Henry Ford Health, you’ll find:

• Outreach and specialty liver clinics: Our hepatologists (liver specialists) travel throughout Michigan doing outreach liver care. We also offer specialty clinics that give you access to experts in multiple disciplines. Our Metabolic Disease Clinic focuses on people with obesity and fatty liver disease. Our Women’s Liver Disease Clinic caters to the unique needs of pregnant women with liver disease.
• Extensive experience: Our skilled liver disease team includes hepatologists who are board certified in both gastroenterology and transplant hepatology. They’re qualified to treat all complex and end-stage liver diseases. We also focus on pre- and post-liver transplant care and support.
• Coordinated specialty care: You receive seamless care from all the specialists you need. Hepatologists work with hepatobiliary (liver, gallbladder and bile duct) surgeons, interventional radiologists, gastrointestinal psychologists and registered dietitians to select the right treatments for your needs.
• Minimally invasive procedures: We were the first liver center in Michigan to offer FibroScan®, a noninvasive alternative to traditional liver biopsy. In addition, we routinely perform radiofrequency ablation and laparoscopic and robotic liver resections for liver tumors. We pioneer the latest minimally invasive techniques to help you heal faster and with less pain.
• Clinical trials for liver disease: Clinical trials give you access to tests and treatments for liver disease that aren’t available elsewhere. Our current investigations include new treatments for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, biomarker testing for early diagnosis of liver cancer, and therapies for autoimmune liver diseases. Browse our clinical trials.
• Liver transplant leaders: We consistently perform the highest volume of adult liver transplants in Michigan and specialize in living-donor liver transplants and multiorgan abdominal transplantation. Our expertise in this area means we can provide the full continuum of care for all stages of liver disease, including liver failure and liver cancer.

What is liver disease?

Liver disease describes a wide range of conditions that affect how your liver works. Your liver is an organ in your abdomen that filters toxins from your blood, helps you digest and metabolize food, and performs many other vital functions.

Some liver diseases are the result of viruses or drinking too much alcohol. Others develop due to metabolic problems such as obesity or Type 2 diabetes. Liver disease can increase your risk of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) or liver failure, a life-threatening disease.

When should I see a liver specialist?

Your primary care physican or gastroenterologist may refer you to a liver specialist if you have abnormal liver function results on a routine blood test. Or you or your healthcare provider may notice signs of liver disease, such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Changes in the color of your stool or urine
• Decreased appetite or unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Itchy skin
• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Nausea and vomiting

Treatment is most effective when we diagnose liver disease early. If you notice signs of liver disease, schedule an appointment with a liver specialist. Together, we can make a treatment plan to prevent long-term liver damage and improve your quality of life.

Take the next step

To connect with a liver disease specialist, call (313) 916-8865 or request an appointment.