Hepatitis C Center - Burbank, CA
Burbank Gastroenterologist Doctors for Hepatitis CType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Burbank * Esmail Hessami MD  Rapid Care Urgent Care  Lakeside Medical Associates  Lakeside Medical Associates  Lakeside Medical Associates  Michael Albertson MD  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Artoon Arakel MD  Gastroenterology Associates  William Loebman MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Tavitian Gastroenterology Medical Group  Tavitian Gastroenterology Medical Group  Tavitian Gastroenterology Medical Group  Gastroenterology Associates  Vincente Villa Jr. MD  Glendale Gastroenterology Medical Group  Ioana A Bina MD Inc  Glendale Gastroenterology Medical Group  Mingquan Bussarakum MD  Elming Djans MD  Michael Klein MD  W David Mello MD  Serra Community Medical Clinic  Nicholas Karyotakis MD  Pyoung I Kwon MD  Paul Choi MD  Anastacio Pinzon MD  Jin H Suh MD  Ho S Bae MD  Laser Endoscopy Medical Group  Barry Morguelan MD  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Harry A Cynamon MD  Mark Davidson MD  Joel D Feinstein MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Donald R Henderson MD  Martin H Lee MD  Yong Tai Lee MD  B Raymond Lim MD & Myoza T Lim MD  Joseph Loewy MD  Cedar Sinai Medical Center  Siamak Tabib MD  Jeffrey H Sherman MD  Jeffrey H Sherman MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Drs Cynamon & Feldman  Drs Cynamon & Feldman  Said Rahban MD  Robert Richter MD  Firmin Ho MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Enrique Slodownik MD  Drs Sial & Cohen  West Gastroenterology Associates  California Pancreatic Biliary Institute  Drs Sial & Cohen  West Gastroenterology Associates  William P Stuppy MD  California Pancreatic Biliary Institute  Dr Marc A Edelstein  John D Romm MD & Howard Pitchon MD  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  Carey Strom MD  Sadler Medical Group  Daniel Lahana MD  Jun-Ichi Ohara MD  Soraya A Ross MD  David Shih MD  Matsumoto Internal Medicine  Gastroenterology Associates  Drs Buch & Shiffman  Nagaraj M Chetty MD  Drs Buch & Shiffman  Ethelred Carter MD  Gnana Desigan MD  USC Internal Medicine  White Memorial Medical Group  Payman?Khorrami MD  Herbert R Kornfeld MD  Rahbar Medical Group  Century City Endoscopy  Mitchell J Spirt MD  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Burbank, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
2012-06-23
2012-06-23
2012-06-30
2012-07-04
2012-08-25
2012-09-01
2012-09-22
2012-09-30
2012-10-06
Hepatitis CRead the Hepatitis C article » What is hepatitis C?Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is difficult for the human immune system to eliminate the virus from the body, and infection with HCV usually becomes chronic. Over decades, chronic infection with HCV damages the liver and can cause liver failure in some people. In the U.S., the number of new cases of infection with HCV has declined over the last 10 years from a peak of some 200,000 annually to about 19,000 in 2006. When the virus first enters the body, there usually are no symptoms, so these numbers are estimates. Up to 85% of newly infected people fail to clear the virus and become chronically infected. In the U.S., more than three million people are chronically infected with HCV. Infection is most common among people who are 40 to 60 years of age, reflecting the high rates of infection in the 1970s and 1980s. There are 8,000 to 10,000 deaths each year in the U.S. related to HCV. HCV is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the U.S and is a risk factor for liver cancer. What is the nature (biology) of the hepatitis C virus? 'Hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver. HCV is one of several viruses that can cause hepatitis. It is unrelated to the other common hepatitis viruses (for example, hepatitis A or hepatitis B). HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses. Other members of this family of viruses include those that cause yellow fever and dengue. Viruses belonging to this family all have ribonucleic acid (RNA) as their genetic material. All hepatitis C viruses are made up of an outer coat (envelope) and contain enzymes and proteins that allow the virus to reproduce within the cells of the body, in particular, the cells of the liver. Although this basic structure is common to all hepatitis C viruses, there are at least six distinctly different strains of the virus which h... Recommended Reading Related to Hepatitis CWhat are Fatty Liver, NAFLD, and NASH?Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes). In NASH, the fat accumulation is associated with varying degrees of inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (fibrosis) of the liver. The term nonalcoholic is used because NAFLD and NASH occur in individuals who do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Yet, in many respects, the histological picture of NAFLD (when we look at a biopsy piece of liver under the microscope) is similar to what can be seen in liver disease that is due to excessive intake of alcohol. As we shall see, however, the clinical circumstances in NAFLD and NASH are very different from those in alc... Other Related Hepatitis C ArticlesEmergency Contact for Burbank
Nearby Burbank Hospitals *Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Glendale Adventist Medical Center Verdugo Hills Hospital Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Hollywood Community Hospital Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center Temple Community Hospital Hollywood Community Hospital of Van Nuys Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles Barlow Respiratory Hospital Sherman Oaks Hospital Cedars-Sinai Medical Center St Vincent Medical Center VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System Kaiser Mental Health Center Valley Presbyterian Hospital Mission Community Hospital Pacific Alliance Medical Center Miracle Mile Medical Center Olympia Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital Huntington Hospital Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center USC University Hospital California Hospital Medical Center Encino Hospital Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital White Memorial Medical Center Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center Orthopaedic Medical Center Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital Alhambra Hospital Medical Center Brotman Medical Center Aurora Las Encinas Hospital Olive View UCLA Medical Center San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Tarzana Regional Medical Center East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Northridge Hospital Medical Center Garfield Medical Center Los Angeles Community Hospital Monterey Park Hospital City of Angels Medical Center Ingleside Campus Kindred Hospital Los Angeles Community Hospital of Huntington Park Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center Methodist Hospital Marina Del Rey Hospital BHC Alhambra Hospital Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center Centinela Campus Beverly Hospital Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center Greater El Monte Community Hospital Martin Luther King Jr MAC Service Center St Francis Medical Center West Hills Hospital & Medical Center Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Hawthorne Campus Motion Picture & Television Hospital City of Hope National Medical Center Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center Downey Regional Medical Center Memorial Hospital of Gardena Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Baldwin Park Vista Hospital of South Bay Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Hepatitis C by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
31 articles-
Liver
- The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins). The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver. Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice.
-
Cirrhosis (Liver)
- Cirrhosis of the liver refers to a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue caused by alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C. This disease leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow, causing internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin, itching, and fatigue.
-
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
-
Viral Hepatitis
- Hepatitis is most often viral, due to infection with one of the hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E, F (not confirmed), and G) or another virus (such as those that cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus disease). The main nonviral causes of hepatitis are alcohol and drugs. Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. For those who do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu- like symptoms including: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness, and aching in the abdomen. Treatment of viral hepatitis is dependant on the type of hepatitis.
-
Hepatitis A and B Immunizations
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are the two most commnon viruses that infect the liver. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can be prevented and treated with immunizations (vaccinations) such as Havrix, Vaqta, Twinrix, Comvax, Pediarix, and hepatitis b immune globulin (HBIG).
-
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body's immune system. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, coughing, weakness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on which type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have, the stage of the cancer, your age, how fast the cancer is growing, and whether you have other health problems.
-
Raynaud's Phenomenon
- Raynaud's phenomenon is characterized by a pale-blue-red sequence of color changes of the digits, most commonly after exposure to cold. Occurring as a result of spasm of blood vessels, the cause is unknown. Symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon depend on the severity, frequency, and duration of the blood vessel spasm. Treatments include protection of the digits, medications, and avoiding emotional stresses, smoking, cold temperature, and tools that vibrate the hands.
-
Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Women (STDs)
- Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
-
Vasculitis
- Vasculitis is a general term for a group of uncommon diseases which feature inflammation of the blood vessels. Each form of vasculitis has its own characteristic pattern of symptoms. The diagnosis of vasculitis is definitively established after a biopsy of involved tissue demonstrates the pattern of blood vessel inflammation. Treatment is directed toward decreasing the inflammation of the arteries and improving the function of affected organs.
-
Jaundice
- Jaundice is a yellowish staining of the skin and whites of the eyes (sclerae) with bilirubin, the pigment found in bile. Jaundice can be an indicator of liver or gallbladder disease, or it may result from the rupture of red blood cells (hemolysis).
-
Fatty Liver
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes).
-
Liver Cancer
- Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the majority of patients with liver cancer will die within one year as a result. Patients with associated cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C infections, alcohol, and hemochromatosis are at the greatest risk of developing liver cancer. Many patients with liver cancer do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor which usually makes prognosis poor. The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans) and an elevated blood level of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, while a liver biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis. Medical treatments, including chemotherapy, chemoembolization, ablation, and proton beam therapy, are not very effective. Surgical removal of the tumor or a liver transplant may be most effective in certain cases.
-
Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia
- Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia is a condition caused by abnormal blood proteins called cryoglobulins. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, skin vasculitis, enlarged spleen, and nerve and kidney disease. Treatment involves medications that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.
-
Alcoholism
- Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
-
Lichen Planus
- Lichen planus is a common skin disease that features small, itchy pink or purple spots on the arms or legs. the abnormal areas on the skin in lichen planus are typically flat-topped (hence the term planus), itchy, and frequently have a polygonal or angular shape.
-
Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Men (STDs in Men)
- Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Although treatment exists for many STDs, others currently are usually incurable, such as those caused by HIV, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HHV-8.
-
Hepatitis B
- The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
-
Drug Abuse
- Drug addiction is a chronic disease that causes drug-seeking behavior and drug use despite negative consequences to the user and those around him. Though the initial decision to use drugs is voluntary, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and ability to make the right decisions and increase the urge to take drugs. Drug abuse and addiction are preventable.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy (STDs)
- When you are pregnant, many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be especially harmful to you and your baby. These STDs include herpes, HIV/AIDS, genital warts (HPV), hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Symptoms include bumps, sores, warts, swelling, itching, or redness in the genital region. Treatment of STDs while pregnant depends on how far along you are in the pregnancy and the progression of the infection.
-
Dry Eyes
- Dry eyes are caused by an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye, but also can be caused by the drying out of the tear film. This can be due to dry air created by air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions. Treatment may involve self-care measures, medications, or rarely, surgery.
-
Drug-Induced Liver Disease
- Drug-induced liver diseases are diseases of the liver that are caused by physician-prescribed medications, OTC medications, vitamins, hormones, herbs, illicit (“recreational”) drugs, and environmental toxins. There are three types of liver toxicity; dose-dependent toxicity, idiosyncratic toxicity, and drug allergy. The types of liver disease drugs cause include: mild elevations of blood levels of liver enzymes, hepatitis, necrosis, cholestasis, steatosis, cirrhosis, mixed disease, fulminant hepatitis, and blood clots.
-
Steroid Abuse
- Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances that are related to testosterone and promote skeletal muscle growth and the development of male sexual characteristics in both men and women. In the 1930s, it was discovered that anabolic steroids could promote skeletal muscle growth in lab animals, which lead to anabolic steroid abuse by bodybuilders and weight lifters.
-
Septic Arthritis
- Septic arthritis, or infectious arthritis, is infection of one or more joints by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Symptoms and signs of septic arthritis include fever, joint pain, chills, swelling, redness, warmth, and stiffness. Treatment involves antibiotics and the drainage of the infected joint.
-
Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelet Count)
- Thrombocytopenia refers to a decreased number of platelets in the blood. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia such as decreased platelet production (viral infections for example rubella, mumps, chickenpox, hepatitis C, and HIV); increased platelet destruction or consumption (for example sulfonamide antibiotics, heparin, blood transfusions, and lupus); or increased splenic sequestration (enlarged spleen due to conditions for example liver disease, blood cancers, and more). Treatment of thrombocytopenia depends on the cause.
-
Encephalopathy
- Encephalopathy means brain disease, damage, or malfunction. Causes of encephalopathy are varied and numerous. The main symptom of encephalopathy is an altered mental state. Other symptoms include lethargy, dementia, seizures, tremors, and coma. Treatment of encephalopathy depends on the type of encephalopathy (anoxia, diabetic, Hashimoto's, hepatic, hyper - hypotensive, infectious, metabolic, infections, uremic, or Wernicke's) are examples of types of encephalopathy.
-
Ascites
- Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is most commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the other causes of ascites include portal hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and pancreatitis. The most common symptoms include increased abdominal girth and size, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on the cause of ascites.
-
Liver Disease
- Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
-
Hemophilia
- Hemophilia is one of a group of inherited bleeding disorders. Hemophilia A and B are inherited in an X-linked recessive genetic pattern and is more common in males. Symptoms of hemophilia include bleeding into the joints, muscles, GI or urinary tract, or brain or skull. Treatments for hemophilia is generally replacement of blood clotting factors.
- See All Related Diseases & Conditions »
-
Liver
-
Medications
9 articles -
Procedures & Tests
8 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
2 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
14 articles -
Health News
26 articles -
Health Features
4 articles
