Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute

05/29/2026

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:

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

05/27/2026

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 sexually active
- People who have HIV or other communicable diseases
- Healthcare providers
- People who use or inject drugs
- People who are homeless

For more:

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

05/15/2026

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:

Talk to your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes you can make to protect your liver’s health.

05/13/2026

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.

05/08/2026

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.

05/06/2026

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

05/01/2026

Check out our May Newsletter -

The Boyer Liver Institute, launched in 2000, is dedicated to research, education, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of liver disease. Stay updated with us to know about current studies, free Hep-C testing, and more! Care for patients suffering from liver disorders such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C...

04/29/2026

Preventing Hepatitis B (HBV):

There are currently an estimated 2.4 million individuals in the United States living with HBV and an estimated 20,000 new infections every year. HBV is passed via bodily fluids and blood through routes such as the following:
- Mother to child in childbirth
- Sexual contact
- Sharing unsterile items with bodily fluids like needles, razors, and other objects that could have blood on them

The best way to prevent HBV is by getting vaccinated early. For more information:

Recommended vaccine schedules for hepatitis B vaccination in the U.S. and internationally. There is a 3-dose and 4-dose recommendation for individuals.

04/27/2026

A truly splendid event that TBDLI participated in! We got to educate youth on liver health and get them involved with knowing how to take care of their liver health. We truly appreciate being able to be a part of an event like this in the community.

The City of Tucson Wards 1 and 5 are inviting the community to a free family fun event this Saturday to celebrate Día de la Niñez.

04/24/2026

that liver transplants can come from organ donations where the donor is living? The new liver may come from a donor who has died or from a living person who donates part of their liver. Living-donor liver transplant is possible because the liver can regrow and regain its typical size again shortly after surgery. For more information on why it is done and risks, read here:

Learn what to expect before and after this important treatment option for people with liver failure.