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Fatty Liver Disease is on the Rise in Children
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease among children and adolescents. Obesity is a major risk factor.
Center for Pediatric Hepatobiliary Disease
Our pediatric hepatology experts offer the latest treatments and have special expertise in conditions that affect newborns.
At Henry Ford Pediatrics, we understand that when your child has an issue with their liver or related structures, it’s concerning. Our pediatric hepatologists are doctors who specialize in treating children with conditions that affect the liver and biliary tree (gallbladder and ducts). They are committed to delivering safe, compassionate care for your child. Our pediatric hepatobiliary center is led by the Henry Ford Health Chair of Pediatrics, Uzma Shah, M.D., FAAP, FAASLD.
Why choose Henry Ford Health for pediatric hepatology care?
- Access: We see new patients promptly, especially when there is an urgent concern. Ask your child’s provider for a referral to Henry Ford Pediatric Gastroenterology to ensure seamless care.
- Expertise: Your child receives care from expert, skilled pediatric hepatologists who have advanced training in liver disease. Trained registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, speech-language pathologists and social workers are also integral members of the team.
- Coordinated care: Our pediatric hepatology team works with other Henry Ford Health specialists for complex issues. Our multidisciplinary care team includes experts from other pediatric specialties, adult specialties, surgical teams, and radiology, pharmacy, specialized laboratory and supportive services. We focus on providing a seamless care experience so you can focus on being there for your child.
- Convenience: We offer complete care at our Royal Oak clinic. You’ll find pediatric specialists, testing facilities and procedure rooms, so your family can receive more services under one roof. We are expanding our pediatric GI services to additional clinics throughout the region. Inpatient admission services as well as endoscopic procedural services are available at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.
- Innovation: Our aim is to advance pediatric gastroenterology care through research. Clinical trials and other research studies help to define the next gold standard of pediatric care, and our team is at the forefront. We have a particular emphasis on gastrointestinal research, and liver disease is one of our current focus areas. Your child may be able to participate in research and access the latest care methods through our science and learning.
Contact us
Call to make appointments at (866) 434-1373
Looking for a second opinion?
If you are receiving services from a community provider, we welcome the opportunity to take part in your child’s care. Offerings include second opinions to confirm a diagnosis or review treatment options. We see new patients promptly, especially when there is an urgent concern.
FAQs about pediatric hepatology services at Henry Ford Health
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What Is Pediatric Hepatology?Hepatology is a subspecialty of gastroenterology that focuses on the liver, gallbladder and biliary tree—a network of ducts that transports and directs bile, which helps break down fats during digestion. Pediatric hepatologists study, help prevent, diagnose and treat conditions that affect a child’s liver and associated structures.
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What Types of Pediatric Hepatology Conditions Do You Treat?
- Chronic liver disease: Including cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, viral hepatitis and autoimmune disease
- Genetic and congenital conditions: Including cystic fibrosis, biliary atresia and choledochal cysts
- Hepatitis: Including infectious, immune and toxin-induced hepatitis, and hepatic masses
- Storage diseases: Including liver failure and mitochondrial hepatopathy
- Gallbladder conditions: Including gallstones, inflammation, obstruction and infection
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What About Conditions Affecting Newborns?We are one of few pediatric gastroenterology programs offering special expertise in neonatal hepatology conditions that affect newborns, including jaundice, hepatitis and acute liver failure. Our multidisciplinary neonatal hepatology team features specialists in several areas, including pediatric hepatology, neonatology, pediatric nutrition, medical genetics and radiology.
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What If My Child Needs a Procedure?When necessary, our pediatric hepatologists perform diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures in children to diagnose and treat a multitude of conditions affecting the liver. This includes endoscopic ultrasound, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP—which combines a minimally invasive endoscopy procedure with X-rays, to better help visualize and treat the liver and its related structures. Our department is committed to providing safe care for all patients.