Introduction
KAGE's Advanced Liver Care & Transplant Clinic provides comprehensive hepatology care, from the most common liver conditions through to the most complex. Fatty liver disease and cirrhosis — by far the most common reasons patients are referred here — are covered in full depth on their own dedicated pages, linked below. This page focuses on the rest of the picture: viral hepatitis, portal hypertension, acute liver failure, genetic and metabolic liver disorders, and the transplant evaluation pathway for advanced disease.
What we treat
| Condition | Where to find full detail |
|---|---|
| Fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH) | Full dedicated page — see Treatments |
| Cirrhosis, including compensated and decompensated disease | Full dedicated page — see Treatments |
| Viral hepatitis (A, B, C) | Covered below |
| Alcohol-related liver disease | Covered below |
| Portal hypertension | Covered below |
| Acute liver failure | Covered below |
| Genetic and metabolic liver disorders | Covered below |
| Liver transplant evaluation | Covered below |
Viral hepatitis
India is classified by the WHO as an intermediate hepatitis B endemic zone, and the Indian government launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) in 2018, aiming to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 through vaccination, screening, and treatment access. Hepatitis A is typically acute and self-limiting, usually spread through contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B is often chronic when acquired early in life and requires long-term monitoring and, in many cases, long-term antiviral therapy to prevent progression to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis C, once considered a lifelong condition, can now often be cured outright with a course of modern antiviral medication — a genuine shift in how the condition is managed compared to a decade ago.
Portal hypertension
Portal hypertension — increased pressure in the vein that supplies blood to the liver — is one of the most consequential complications of advanced liver disease, since it drives several of cirrhosis's most serious complications directly (see the Cirrhosis page for more on these). Management focuses on both reducing portal pressure through medication and directly treating its consequences: endoscopic banding for esophageal varices to prevent or treat bleeding, and fluid management for ascites. Patients with cirrhosis are generally screened for varices via endoscopy, since identifying and treating them before they bleed is far safer than managing an acute bleeding episode.
Acute liver failure
Acute liver failure is a rare but genuine medical emergency, in which the liver loses function rapidly — over days to weeks — in someone without pre-existing chronic liver disease. Causes include certain viral infections, drug reactions (including some common over-the-counter medications taken in excess), and less commonly other toxins or metabolic conditions. It requires immediate hospitalization and close monitoring, since it can progress rapidly and, in severe cases, requires urgent transplant evaluation.
Genetic and metabolic liver disorders
- Wilson's disease — a genetic condition causing copper accumulation in the liver and other organs; very manageable with lifelong treatment when identified, serious if missed (see the Pediatric Liver Disease page for how this can present in children)
- Hemochromatosis — a condition causing excess iron accumulation, which can damage the liver and other organs over time if undetected
- Other inherited metabolic liver conditions, evaluated individually based on presentation and family history
Liver transplant evaluation
Liver transplant is considered for patients with advanced, decompensated cirrhosis or certain cases of acute liver failure that aren't adequately managed by other treatment. One structural point worth understanding: liver transplantation in India operates predominantly on a living-donor model — a portion of a living donor's liver, most often a close relative, is transplanted and both the donor's and recipient's livers regenerate over time — a meaningfully different pathway from the deceased-donor-dominant systems common in Western countries. Transplant evaluation involves a thorough assessment of disease severity, overall health, and, where relevant, potential living donor compatibility, coordinated closely with a transplant program.
The team behind the clinic
The clinic is run by our hepatologists — Dr. Spoorthi Kolla and Dr. Srujan Kumar Dasyam — working from non-invasive fibrosis assessment first, with a liver biopsy reserved for cases where the non-invasive tests leave the question open. Patients who already carry a cirrhosis or hepatitis diagnosis are taken on for ongoing surveillance rather than for a single opinion. To have your scans and blood work reviewed, book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Chronic hepatitis B is generally managed rather than cured — long-term antiviral therapy can effectively control the virus and prevent progression to cirrhosis or liver cancer, even without eliminating the infection entirely.
India's transplant programs rely predominantly on living donors — typically a close relative — rather than the deceased-donor allocation systems more common in Western countries, which changes both the evaluation process and the timeline involved.
It's increased pressure in the vein supplying the liver, usually resulting from cirrhosis, and it drives some of the most serious complications of advanced liver disease, including variceal bleeding — which is why patients with cirrhosis are typically screened for it directly.
Diagnostic evaluation and standard hepatitis treatment are generally covered under most health insurance plans; coverage for transplant evaluation and surgery depends heavily on your specific policy. Our team can help clarify coverage and coordinate care.
Certain viral infections, reactions to medications (including some common over-the-counter drugs taken in excess), and other toxins can all cause the liver to fail rapidly even without pre-existing disease — it's a genuine emergency requiring immediate hospitalization.
It's a reasonable and often recommended step, particularly for hepatitis B given its transmission patterns — your care team can advise on specific testing and, for hepatitis B, vaccination for unaffected family members.
Yes, both are very manageable with lifelong treatment once identified — the challenge is usually diagnosis, since early symptoms can be subtle or attributed to other causes.
This is generally considered for advanced, decompensated cirrhosis or certain cases of acute liver failure not responding to other treatment — your hepatologist will discuss this specifically if your disease reaches that stage, based on ongoing monitoring.
Living donors are typically close relatives who undergo their own thorough medical and psychological evaluation for compatibility and safety — the transplant team manages this evaluation as part of the overall process.
Yes — biliary atresia in particular is a leading reason children need liver transplant; see the Pediatric Liver Disease page for that specific pathway.
Book a consultation at KAGE
Speak to a KAGE gastroenterologist about your symptoms, your diagnosis, or a second opinion.