Jump to content

Choose locationNot Set
  • Sign in or Register
    • I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
X Close Window

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
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Register
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Ways to Give
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Services
  • Liver Care
  • Autoimmune Liver Disease Care
Content

Autoimmune Liver Disease Care

For unclear reasons, your body can attack your liver and bile ducts in a trio of diseases known as autoimmune liver disease. Liver specialists in the Sutter Health network are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune liver diseases. If diagnosed and treated early, you can expect a good outcome.

Liver imaging and biopsy

Featured Services

  • Autoimmune Liver Disease Panel
  • Liver Biopsy
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Liver Transplant

Connect with a Liver Specialist

Managing Autoimmune Liver Disease

What causes the body to attack your liver? Scientists are unclear on the causes and triggers of autoimmune liver disease, which can occur without symptoms or occur with anorexia or fatigue.

Liver specialists at Sutter’s San Francisco Center for Liver Disease are highly experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune liver diseases. Our team leads the delivery of care at regional offices throughout Northern California. Here are some of the services we provide. 

Autoimmune Hepatitis Care

In autoimmune hepatitis, the body attacks the cells of the liver, causing inflammation and, over time, cirrhosis and acute liver failure. The disease is more common in women than men and in people who have other autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes and ulcerative colitis. 

Because autoimmune hepatitis can look like other forms of hepatitis on liver function tests, your doctor will run a special blood test to diagnose your autoimmune liver diseases and possibly conduct a liver biopsy. 

Treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, which you may need to take for life.

Doctor examining patient abdomen 

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Care

Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic disease that destroys the bile ducts in the liver, causing scarring and cirrhosis. While it frequently occurs without symptoms, it can cause intense itching, fatigue, jaundice and swelling in the abdomen or ankles. 

A liver specialist may recommend a blood test, ultrasound and liver biopsy to diagnose the disease.

Primary Schlerosing Cholangitis Care

Primary schlerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare chronic disease of the bile ducts, occurs more frequently in men than women and results in scarring and inflammation of the biliary system. It can cause cirrhosis and cancer if untreated, and may require a liver transplant. 

PSC is diagnosed using MRI cholangiopancreatography, an imaging study that can identify the signs of scarring in your bile ducts. If blockages occur in the bile ducts, your doctor may use endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to clear the blockages. Medication can improve bile flow. You’ll also need regular monitoring through liver function tests.

Patient Information

Young African-American man using a laptop

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

Clinical Perspectives

Surgeons at work in operating room

Sutter's Leading Liver Transplant Center

Sutter's center for liver transplant, the Barry S. Stein, MD, Department of Transplant at California Pacific Medical Center, has earned national recognition as the only transplant center in the country to achieve better-than-average patient outcomes in both liver and kidney transplant patients.

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Research

Sutter Health Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Research

Sutter Health Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Research Sutter Health Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Research

Services Near You

California Pacific Medical Center

California Pacific Medical Center

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital

Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital

View All Related Locations

Referring Physicians

Find a specialist who fits your patients' needs.

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 Room
  • Ways to Give
  • 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 Policy
    • Terms of Use

    • 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 © 2019 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.