Yale New Haven Hospital offers specialized hepatology programs to treat a variety of diseases affecting the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas in adults.
The nationally recognized hepatologists at Yale New Haven Hospital work at one of the leading liver research centers in the U.S., The Yale Liver Center. Being at the forefront of research allows the team to apply the latest advancements in treatments in the care of our patients. The Center is one of only three National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored liver research centers in the U.S. Our hepatologists are internationally recognized experts who are defining the standards of practice in writing national professional society guidelines in the care of patients of liver disease including viral hepatitis, autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases, Wilson’s disease, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Advanced and Innovative Care
As national and international leaders in the research and treatment of patients with chronic liver disease, our team members provide patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, all of which offer new treatment options otherwise unavailable to the general public. Our participation in clinical trials and research help to assure our patients have access to the newest and best treatments available.
In addition, patients hospitalized with cirrhosis receive specialized care within a dedicated liver disease hospital unit, which is staffed by medical and nursing professionals trained in the care of patients with end-stage liver disease. The unit has 24/7 hepatologists on call and is the leading referral center in Connecticut and southern New England for the care of complex patients with cirrhosis.
Yale New Haven Hospital Hepatology programs
With over twenty hepatologists on the Digestive Health hepatology team, we are able to offer an array of specialized programs including Autoimmune and Cholestatic Liver, Fatty Liver, Gaucher Disease, Wilson Disease and Viral Hepatitis. In addition, patients with liver cancer are treated at Smilow Cancer Hospital and those requiring liver transplants are cared for at the Yale New Haven Transplantation Center.
Specialty Hepatology Programs
Advanced Liver Disease
The Advanced Liver Disease Program oversees the care and treatment of patients with complications from advanced liver disease (cirrhosis) that may or may not be attributed to substance use disorder. This program aims to provide care and monitoring to patients outside of the hospital in hopes to keep patients home while actively participating in their health care. Patients work with our team of social workers, hepatologists, and psychologists to determine the best course of treatment and decrease social barriers that might limit a patient’s engagement in their care, with a goal of liver transplant (for eligible patients) or end of life care. This multidisciplinary program aims to provide patient-centered care and facilitate access to social work, addiction medicine, counseling, and nutrition services. Our team works with patients to decrease emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and length of stay (if hospitalized) for patients.
For more information, call 203-785-1438.
Alcohol and Addiction Treatment in Hepatology
Our clinic for Alcohol and Addiction Treatment in Hepatology provides integrated care for patients with chronic liver disease and addiction. Our team consists of staff with expertise in both hepatology and addiction medicine. We focus on the evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic liver diseases including cirrhosis and alcohol-associated liver disease as well as co-occurring alcohol and other substance use disorders.
Undiagnosed Liver Disease
Our Undiagnosed Liver Disease Clinic is one of only two liver clinics in the U.S., which focus on the evaluation of patients who suffer from liver diseases of unknown cause despite comprehensive testing performed by doctors. Our team specializes in investigating why a certain individual develops liver disease by gathering information to help determine the most effective, personalized diagnosis and management of their condition, and incorporates specialized whole exome genetic sequencing studies to evaluate for rare genetic and metabolic liver disorders not identified by standard laboratory testing.
Liver Cancer Monitoring
At Yale New Haven Health, our team of experts focus on monitoring and treating individuals who might be at an increased risk of developing liver cancer, including Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer and one of the fastest growing cancer types in the United States. Patients with known liver disease or increased risk factors are closely monitored through regular imaging and tests to screen for signs of liver cancer. Some conditions that lead to increased risk factors for liver cancer are:
- Alcohol related Liver Disease
- Diabetes
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Hepatitis B or C
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Obesity
It is important for liver-related conditions to be monitored and treated to preserve liver function in the event of cancer. Our expert hepatologists recommend patients at increased risk receive screening for liver cancer every 6 months with an abdominal ultrasound and a blood test to detect alpha-fetoprotein. A CT or MRI may also be used in more complex cases.
Screening for liver cancer with ultrasound and blood tests is indicated in the following patients:
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Hepatitis B Virus without cirrhosis, (commonly found in males older than 40 years of age and women older than 50 years of age) and or with a family history of HCC or with a PAGE-B score greater than 10.
