Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute

Testing Opportunity:

Join us at the Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 20th from 6 to 10 PM at Kino Sports Complex to get free hepatitis C screenings. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Last week, we had the privilege to participate in HOPE in the Park from the City of Tucson Housing and Community Development department. We were able to get some hepatitis C screenings done, and we could not have done without the collaborative effort from our community.

check out our website and monthly newsletters on updates for future screenings and contact information to plan to future screenings.

June 11 is Global Fatty Liver Day

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting about 1 in 4 adults (≈25% of the global adult population). Get screened with our providers and see what treatment options are right for you.

Happy Pride Month!

Two million people live with hepatitis C (HCV) in the United States, and men who have s*x with men (MSM) likely represent a new wave of infections. Prevalence is higher in MSM who are over 30, with HIV, history of IDU, and endorsing high-risk s*xual practices. Make sure to care for yourself by getting screened for HCV, practice harm reduction, and seeking treatment.

Autoimmune hepatitis:

Autoimmune hepatitis is a liver disease that happens when the body's immune system attacks the liver. This can cause swelling, irritation and damage to the liver. Symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis vary from person to person that may include:
- Fatigue.
- Belly discomfort.
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, called jaundice.
- An enlarged liver.
- Irregular blood vessels on the skin, called spider angiomas.
- Skin rash.
- Joint pain.
- Loss of menstrual periods.

For more:

Autoimmune hepatitis - Symptoms and causes This type of hepatitis happens when the immune system attacks the liver with destructive antibodies. Immune-suppressing medicine is the main treatment.

Who is most at risk for contracting viral hepatitis? Viral hepatitis can impact anybody, as behaviors is what causes people to contract viral hepatitis, but there are some people who are more at risk. This includes the following people:

- Adults who are s*xually active
- People who have HIV or other communicable diseases
- Healthcare providers
- People who use or inject drugs
- People who are homeless

For more:

Viral Hepatitis Among Specific Populations Learn who’s at higher risk for viral hepatitis: health care workers, people who inject drugs, HIV.

Toxic Hepatitis:

Toxic hepatitis, or liver toxicity, is liver swelling (inflammation) that results from contact with a harmful substance (toxin). Healthcare providers categorize types of toxic hepatitis according to the cause:

- Chemical-induced hepatitis: exposure to chemicals through ingesting, breathing or touching the chemical.
- Drug-induced hepatitis: taking too much of certain medications, such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs.
- Alcohol-induced hepatitis: due to alcohol use disorder, especially if you also use recreational drugs.

For more:

Protect Yourself From Toxic Hepatitis Talk to your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes you can make to protect your liver’s health.

Hepatitis C Testing Opportunity:

Join the UA Primary Prevention Mobile Health Unit-Tucson and the Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute this Sunday, May 17th from 2 to 5 PM to receive free screenings at the Pima Reentry Center. We will be providing free hepatitis C screenings alongside the screening services provided by the Mobile Health Unit such as glucose, blood pressure, physical measurements, and HIV screenings.

There are several types of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is the most common type of hepatitis. The most common ones in the U.S. are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis D and hepatitis E aren’t as common. Check out our post to learn about the ABCs of Viral Hepatitis:

ABCDEs of Viral Hepatitis:

Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of hepatitis in the United States, and, currently, there are 5 types of hepatitis viruses that exist. All the viruses cause a new or "acute" infection, but viruses, like Hepatitis B and C, cause long-term or "chronic" infections that lead to severe outcomes like cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Here we have an updated list on how each virus is spread, how common it is in the US, and how to prevent/treat each virus.

It's Hepatitis Awareness Month!

What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is inflammation in your liver. Inflammation is your body’s response to an infection or injury. Many things can injure your liver and trigger hepatitis.

What things can trigger hepatitis? Hepatitis can have many causes with the most common cause being viral infection. Exposure to toxins can also be another cause typically from behaviors such as substance use.

Learn more: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hepatitis