The Hepatology section of the Division of Digestive Diseases at UCLA is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with liver disease, basic and clinical research to understand the causes of liver disease and to develop new therapies for it, and the education of patients and physicians regarding liver disease. Diseases of the liver, including hepatitis A, B, and C, fatty disorders of the liver, and metabolic and toxic liver disease, affect more than 10 million Americans. As many as one million individuals, worldwide, die of liver cancer annually.
Liver cirrhosis is a major cause of illness, death, and consumption of medical resources.
This section has expertise in all aspects of the management of patients with liver disease. Its special focus is on viral hepatitis, acute and chronic liver failure, and fatty disorders of the liver. Additionally, the section manages the medical service for the UCLA Liver Transplant Program, which is the world s largest such center. Within the section exists the Fatty Liver Disorders Clinic, one of only a few of its kind in the nation to specialize in the diagnosis and management of this common abnormality. Members of this section are involved in considerable research to understand the causes of liver disease and to develop preventative strategies and treatment for them.