Liver Disease in Children

There are many different factors that can result in liver disease in children. That's why our specialists’ first goal is to identify the cause of your child’s liver disease. Some of the common liver diseases that affect children include:

• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic disorder that damages the liver
• Autoimmune hepatitis, liver inflammation caused by an overactive immune system
• Biliary atresia, inflammation in the bile ducts that carry digestive juices
• Glycogen storage disease, a buildup of glycogen, or sugar, in the liver
• Pediatric liver cancer
• Pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, in which fat builds up in the liver
• Pediatric metabolic liver disease, a genetic disorder that affects the body’s metabolism
• Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder that causes copper buildup in the liver as well as liver injuries

Our pediatric liver center draws on the expertise of many different specialists to treat your child’s liver disease. Depending on your child’s individual needs, their care team may include a pediatric gastroenterologist and hepatologist as well as nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dietitians who have years of experience treating children with liver diseases. If necessary, we also draw upon the expertise of Duke specialists in genetics, immunology, metabolism, nephrology, cardiology, and infectious diseases.

When you bring your child to Duke Children’s, our team will answer all your questions and be with you every step of the way. Our doctors and nurses will also connect your family to other hospital services for the extra care your child needs.

Child Life Specialists

Our child life specialists provide support, education, and guidance to help you and your child during treatment and hospitalization. Child life specialists explain procedures, offer encouragement, and use fun activities to take your child’s mind off treatment.

Care Coordination and Support

Our social workers can help you navigate the medical system and coordinate the variety of health services your child may need. We help you work with insurance providers, connect to community resources, and manage details related to your child’s care.

Ronald McDonald Family Room

If your child is staying at Duke Children’s, you can relax in the Ronald McDonald Family Room. You can grab a light meal, shower, do laundry, or use a computer with internet access.

Experience with Complex Conditions
We are one of only a handful of programs in the nation to manage liver injury and liver scarring in children following Fontan surgery for complex congenital heart defects.

Portal Hypertension Liver Disease Expertise
We offer North Carolina’s highest level of specialty care for children with a rare condition called portal hypertension liver disease. It can occur when the portal vein -- which carries blood to the liver -- is narrowed or blocked.

The Highest Quality Surgical Care
If your child needs liver surgery, you can be confident in the range of our expertise. Duke Children’s is one of a small number of U.S. hospitals verified as a Level I children's surgery center by the American College of Surgeons. This Level I designation recognizes our commitment to providing the safest and highest-quality surgical care to our young patients.

Pediatric Liver Transplant Program
If a liver transplant is necessary, your child is in excellent hands. Our pediatric liver transplant program is the largest in the region, and our survival rates exceed the national average.

The Latest Research
Many of our doctors are actively involved in research, which means your child may be eligible to receive innovative therapies only available through participation in clinical trials.

Coordination and Support
Many pediatric liver diseases must be monitored on a regular basis. We work with your child’s local doctor to coordinate lab tests and manage your child’s treatment plan so you can stay as close to home as possible and appropriate.