Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Hepatitis and Liver Disease
Content

Hepatitis and Liver Disease

Your liver removes toxins from your body. Many diseases, including hepatitis and cirrhosis, interfere with this essential function. When you detect some of these diseases early, the liver can heal itself. Untreated, most of these conditions lead to liver failure and require a transplant.

Granddaughter and grandfather

Types of Diseases

  • Alcoholic Liver Disease
  • Autoimmune Hepatitis
  • Cholestatic Liver Disease
  • Cirrhosis
  • Drug Induced Liver Injury
  • Hepatitis
  • Hepatitis C
  • Liver Cancer
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver

Liver Disease Facts and Stats

Your liver is the only organ in your body that can regenerate itself. It eliminates toxins, including alcohol, from your blood and is essential for life.

  • If even half of your liver cells suffer sudden damage, your liver can usually repair itself in 30 days. Ongoing exposure to drugs, alcohol or viruses, however, may prevent regeneration and lead to irreparable scar tissue.
  • Viruses cause the five main types of hepatitis. Hepatitis C is by far the most common. About 75 to 85 percent of people who become infected with hepatitis C develop chronic infection, a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and the most common reason people require liver transplants.
  • Vaccinations guard against hepatitis A and B. There is no hepatitis C vaccine.
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects about 10 to 20 percent of Americans, more often in overweight people. The rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has doubled in the past 20 years.
  • Liver cancer rates in Americans have tripled since 1980, likely due to increasing hepatitis C and B infections. However, survival rates are also rising, especially when liver cancer is caught early.
  • Each year more than 6,000 people receive a liver transplant, compared to just 100 in 1982. Transplant donor numbers are rising, but not enough to meet demand. About 16,000 people are on the waiting list for a liver transplant.
  • About 78 percent of people who get a liver transplant survive at least five years and often much longer.

Patient Information

Couple sitting on floor in apartment looking at digital tablet

Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

 
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Tips for Choosing a Doctor
  • Health Insurance Guide

Find a Liver Specialist

Liver Care Today

African American man getting blood drawn

Winning the Hepatitis C Fight

New treatments offer hope to millions of people infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Doctor checking on patient

Cirrhosis Care

Don’t ignore the symptoms of liver disease, because late-stage cirrhosis is irreversible and may require transplant.

Surgeons

Liver Transplant

When you need a liver transplant, Sutter’s outcomes are among the nation’s best.

Ask an Expert

Sanjeev Tummala

Sanjeev Tummala, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. What causes this and can this condition be reversed?

A functioning liver is vital to human life. Your liver filters harmful substances out of your blood and converts the food you eat into nutrients your body uses. A liver with too much fat - over 5 to 10 percent ... continue reading  about  I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. What causes this and can this condition be reversed?

Experts Who Partner With You

Senior couple smiling

Liver Care and Transplant Services

The Sutter Health network provides comprehensive programs and liver specialists who can help you manage symptoms, recover well and, when necessary, get a liver transplant. Learn about today’s treatment options for hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer and other liver diseases. 

Doctor Profiles

The following doctors are part of the Sutter Health network. Learn about the doctors on this site
R. Todd Frederick, M.D.

R. Todd Frederick, M.D.

  • Liver Disease/Hepatology

Raphael B. Merriman, M.D.

Raphael B. Merriman, M.D.

  • Liver Disease/Hepatology

Jennifer Guy, M.D.

Jennifer Guy, M.D.

  • Liver Disease/Hepatology

Edward W. Holt, M.D.

Edward W. Holt, M.D.

  • Liver Disease/Hepatology

Adil S. Wakil, M.D.

Adil S. Wakil, M.D.

  • Liver Disease/Hepatology

View All Related Doctors

Care Near You

Find Nearby Doctors

Not just a doctor, a partner. Find a Sutter Health network doctor today.

Find Nearby Locations

Convenient care that’s close to home, from urgent care to imaging.

Find Nearby Events

Classes, support groups and more. Because care doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office.

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Flu Resources
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences