Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • 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
  • All CitiesAll Cities
  • Services
  • Liver Care
  • Alcoholic Liver Disease Care
Content

PAMF Alcoholic Liver Disease Care

Alcohol can damage or destroy liver cells if you drink more of it than your liver, the body's filter, can safely break down. At Palo Alto Medical Foundation, liver specialists treat all types of alcoholic liver disease and complications caused by liver damage.

Mature doctor explaining liver problems to patient

Connect with a Liver Specialist

Featured Services

  • Liver Transplant

OpenView more services offered in the Sutter network.

Alcoholic Liver Disease Care within the Sutter Health network

The Sutter Health network has doctors and services in more than 100 California cities.

    CloseView more services offered in the Sutter network.

    Advancing the Fight Against Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)

    An estimated 14 million people in the United States have an alcohol use disorder, according to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Some of them will develop alcoholic liver disease (ALD) as a result.

    The liver performs a vital function as the body’s primary filter for removing harmful substances—including alcohol—from the bloodstream. If you consume more alcohol than your liver can break down, it can damage or kill liver cells and cause scarring. 

    In the Sutter Health network, highly trained liver specialists are advancing the care of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) through research and the development of new therapies and treatments of liver damage. 

    Types of ALD

    Alcoholism causes three types of liver disease, but ALD does not necessarily progress through each one as in stages. You may develop cirrhosis without having had alcoholic hepatitis first.

    • Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease — An early consequence of excessive alcohol consumption that is reversible with abstinence.
    • Alcoholic Hepatitis — Marked by fat deposits in liver cells and inflammation and mild scarring of the liver. May be accompanied by symptoms that include nausea, fever, abdominal pain and jaundice.
    • Alcoholic Cirrhosis — Scar tissue replaces healthy soft liver tissue, and may cause nausea, abdominal pain, fever and jaundice. 

    Diagnosis of ALD

    Liver specialists begin by gathering a complete clinical history, including alcohol habits, and a physical examination to check for inflammation of the liver and other signs of liver disease. Blood tests called liver function tests show how well your liver is performing its various functions. A liver biopsy may be necessary to check for the presence of liver cell death due to steatosis (excessive fat deposits in liver cells caused by alcohol and obesity). 

    Treatment for ALD

    The foundation of alcoholic liver disease treatment is abstinence from alcohol. Our specialists may recommend an alcohol recovery program to help your liver recover or medication and therapy to manage complications. 

    If your liver does not recover following abstinence, you may be referred to Sutter’s renowned Barry S. Levin, MD, Department of Transplant at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

    In Your Corner

    Doctor checking on patient

    Managing Cirrhosis

    Liver specialists in the Sutter Health network are expert in the care of liver diseases, many of which result in cirrhosis, the end stage of chronic liver diseases. We can help manage your cirrhosis and the complications that occur.

    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

    Burlingame Center

    Burlingame Center

    1501 Trousdale Drive

    Building B

    Burlingame, CA 94010

    Fremont Center

    Fremont Center

    3200 Kearney Street

    Fremont, CA 94538

    (510) 490-1222

    Santa Cruz Gastroenterology

    Santa Cruz Gastroenterology

    1662 Dominican Way

    Santa Cruz, CA 95065

    (831) 460-7350

    Palo Alto Center

    Palo Alto Center

    795 El Camino Real

    Palo Alto, CA 94301

    (650) 321-4121

    Dublin Center

    Dublin Center

    4050 Dublin Blvd.

    Dublin, CA 94568-3112

    (925) 875-6100

    San Carlos Center

    San Carlos Center

    301 Industrial Road

    San Carlos, CA 94070

    (650) 321-4121

    Mountain View Center

    Mountain View Center

    701 East El Camino Real

    Mountain View, CA 94040

    (650) 934-7000

    View All Related Locations

    • Contact Us
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Request Medical Records
    • Make a Gift
    Sign in to My Health Online

    Billing and Insurance

    • Pay a Bill
    • Accepted Health Plans
    • Estimate Costs
    • Medicare Advantage

    About Sutter

    • About Our Network
    • Community Benefit
    • Annual Report
    • News

    Our Team

    • For Employees
    • For Medical Professionals
    • For Vendors
    • For Volunteers

    Careers

    • Jobs at Sutter
    • Physician Jobs
    • Graduate Medical Education

    Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    • ADA Accessibility
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window

    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