Hepatology

The Leeds Liver Unit offers a comprehensive level 3 hepatology service for the North of England in addition to the transplant services.

We deliver services for patients with:

Acute and sub-acute liver failure
Complex portal hypertension
Autoimmune related liver disease including primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis
Rare diseases such as inherited and metabolic liver disease including that due to Wilson’s disease, alpha-1-antitrysin deficiency, haemochromatosis and glycogen storage diseases
Vascular liver disease including Budd-Chiari syndrome

Our unit is supported by interventional and diagnostic radiology services and liver pathology services.

We also deliver services for a wide range of liver conditions such as:

Cirrhosis
Fatty liver
Abnormal liver function test evaluation

Outpatient Hepatology Clinics

A wide range of general liver services are available through the Department of Hepatology. These are briefly described below.

All services are consultant led. They are delivered by consultants, speciality doctors, clinical nurse specialists and experienced doctors in specialty training. All our clinic services are closely supervised by the consultant team. Many of our clinics are multi-specialty and patients may be able to see more than one professional at the same visit allowing for rapid assessment and treatment where appropriate, and reducing the number of visits they have to make to the hospital.

Abnormal LFT clinic

This is a new patient clinic and is open to referrals from Leeds GPs for patients with abnormal liver function tests fitting the NAFLD (non-alcohol related fatty liver disease) risk factor profile: isolated raised ALT, fatty liver on ultrasound scan (with or without abnormal LFTS), diabetes, raised body mass index. It is held for 3 of 4 weeks in the month and on Wednesday mornings. Fibroscan and alternative non-invasive fibrosis marker assessments are available in this clinic if needed.

General Hepatology Clinic

This is a mixed clinic for patients with a wide variety of liver diseases including cirrhosis, alcohol related disease, genetic and metabolic diseases such as haemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease, non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, Budd-Chiari syndrome etc. This clinic accepts secondary and tertiary care referrals. It is a training and teaching clinic. It is held on Wednesday afternoons. Fibroscan technology is available in this clinic if needed.

Our general hepatology services are assisted by liver nurse specialists who deliver clinics for patients with cirrhosis and acute liver disease recently discharged from hospital.

Complex Portal Hypertension Clinic

This clinic currently provides services for patients being assessed for, waiting for or following a TIPSS procedure. It is our newest sub-specialist clinic and is in development. It also serves patients with refractory ascites. The service is delivered by our specialists with a particular interest in the complications of portal hypertension and includes both consultants and specialist nurses.

Immune Hepatology Clinic

This is a sub-specialised clinic for patients with autoimmune liver diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). It runs on the first Wednesday of each month and is a training clinic. Fibroscan technology is available in this clinic if needed.

Our immune hepatology services include specialist nurse clinics for patients needing very close monitoring whilst medication is being adjusted. Patients with acute hepatitis form various causes including autoimmune disease will often be followed up initially through this service. Our specialist nurse offers an advice line, email and telephone consultations and remote monitoring services for patients requiring frequent follow-up.

Fatty Liver Clinic

This is a sub-specialised predominantly follow-up clinic for patients with metabolic syndrome non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients with low-risk fatty liver disease have 5 year liver health checks offered through this service. Patients at risk of liver disease progression are seen at intervals according to their risk stratification.

Fibroscan

Fibroscan is a technology that we use to assess the stiffness of the liver. This helps us to assess whether scarring is likely to be present or not. It can avoid the need for a liver biopsy.