The Liver Center at University Gastroenterology is under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Sepe and Dr. Eric Newton. The Liver Center provides the latest in state-of-the-art care for all forms of liver disease, including Hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis and its complications, hereditary liver disease, and fatty liver/steatohepatitis. The Research Unit of the Liver Center under the direction of Dr. Sepe as Principal Investigator has conducted over 90 clinical trials in liver disease. Many of the latest treatments leading to a cure for Hepatitis C have been developed at the Center, and its staff are expert in their usage. Current trials are focusing on agents effective for the treatment of steatohepatitis and the therapy and reversal of cirrhosis as well as even better therapies for Hepatitis C.
Cutting-Edge Screening Tools
Committed to providing cutting-edge, cost-effective care, University Gastroenterology stays at the forefront of medicine by utilizing the latest technology.
VelacurTM and Fatty Liver Disease
Velacur is a revolutionary liver assessment tool designed to address this need. This advanced technology offers real-time quantification of two crucial markers for the disease: liver stiffness (fibrosis) and attenuation (fat). These measurements provide physicians with valuable insights that can help determine the extent and severity of liver damage caused by MASLD and MASH.
Key Features of Velacur: • Real-Time Quantification: Velacur delivers immediate and accurate quantification of liver stiffness and attenuation, enabling timely clinical decisions. • User-Friendly: The system is designed for ease of use, making it accessible to healthcare providers of various backgrounds. • Non-Invasive: Velacur eliminates the need for invasive procedures like liver biopsy, ensuring patient comfort and safety. • Affordable: It offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive diagnostic methods, making it a practical choice for healthcare facilities. • Early Detection: Velacur aids in the early detection of fatty liver disease, empowering healthcare providers and patients to intervene to either reverse or stop the progression of the disease.
Fatty Liver Disease
One in three Americans is affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
• Current diagnostic methods have limitations that impede widespread use:
• Biopsy is invasive and provides only a small heterogeneous sample • MRE and MRI-PDFF are expensive and require highly skilled operators • FibroScan is older technology and has issues with accuracy, reliability and poor steatosis measurement
• Individuals aren’t routinely screened for fatty liver disease, resulting in a large number of patients (almost 70%) in the ER with cirrhosis, unaware they had a pre-existing liver condition • Prominent medical associations, including the American Gastroenterology Association, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) now recommend screening high-risk individuals (those with type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and other metabolic conditions) using FIB-4 followed by an ultrasound-based imaging tool such as Velacur or ELF
FibroScan
The Liver Center features FIBROscan, an FDA approved device for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis; it is the only device of its kind in clinical practice within 50 miles. The physicians of University Gastroenterology are happy to accept referrals in liver disease from physicians in Rhode Island and throughout Southeastern New England. University Gastroenterology evaluates patients on four main campuses with satellite offices located throughout the State of Rhode Island. It is a major affiliate of UNIVERSITY ENDOSCOPY GROUP, composed of four state-of-the-art outpatient ambulatory endoscopy centers.
The Liver Center at University Gastroenterology is under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Sepe and Dr. Eric Newton. The Liver Center provides the latest in state-of-the-art care for all forms of liver disease, including Hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis and its complications, hereditary liver disease, and fatty liver/steatohepatitis. The Research Unit of the Liver Center under the direction of Dr. Sepe as Principal Investigator has conducted over 90 clinical trials in liver disease. Many of the latest treatments leading to a cure for Hepatitis C have been developed at the Center, and its staff are expert in their usage. Current trials are focusing on agents effective for the treatment of steatohepatitis and the therapy and reversal of cirrhosis as well as even better therapies for Hepatitis C.
Cutting-Edge Screening Tools
Committed to providing cutting-edge, cost-effective care, University Gastroenterology stays at the forefront of medicine by utilizing the latest technology.
VelacurTM and Fatty Liver Disease
Velacur is a revolutionary liver assessment tool designed to address this need. This advanced technology offers real-time quantification of two crucial markers for the disease: liver stiffness (fibrosis) and attenuation (fat). These measurements provide physicians with valuable insights that can help determine the extent and severity of liver damage caused by MASLD and MASH.
Key Features of Velacur:
• Real-Time Quantification: Velacur delivers immediate and accurate quantification of liver stiffness and attenuation, enabling timely clinical decisions.
• User-Friendly: The system is designed for ease of use, making it accessible to healthcare providers of various backgrounds.
• Non-Invasive: Velacur eliminates the need for invasive procedures like liver biopsy, ensuring patient comfort and safety.
• Affordable: It offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive diagnostic methods, making it a practical choice for healthcare facilities.
• Early Detection: Velacur aids in the early detection of fatty liver disease, empowering healthcare providers and patients to intervene to either reverse or stop the progression of the disease.
Fatty Liver Disease
One in three Americans is affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
• Current diagnostic methods have limitations that impede widespread use:
• Biopsy is invasive and provides only a small heterogeneous sample
• MRE and MRI-PDFF are expensive and require highly skilled operators
• FibroScan is older technology and has issues with accuracy, reliability and poor steatosis measurement
• Individuals aren’t routinely screened for fatty liver disease, resulting in a large number of patients (almost 70%) in the ER with cirrhosis, unaware they had a pre-existing liver condition
• Prominent medical associations, including the American Gastroenterology Association, American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) now recommend screening high-risk individuals (those with type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and other metabolic conditions) using FIB-4 followed by an ultrasound-based imaging tool such as Velacur or ELF
FibroScan
The Liver Center features FIBROscan, an FDA approved device for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis; it is the only device of its kind in clinical practice within 50 miles. The physicians of University Gastroenterology are happy to accept referrals in liver disease from physicians in Rhode Island and throughout Southeastern New England. University Gastroenterology evaluates patients on four main campuses with satellite offices located throughout the State of Rhode Island. It is a major affiliate of UNIVERSITY ENDOSCOPY GROUP, composed of four state-of-the-art outpatient ambulatory endoscopy centers.
Thomas E. Sepe, M.D. – Director
Eric Newton, M.D. – Associate Director
Ravi Nadimpalli, M.D. - Staff Physician
Jeff Nadelson, M.D.- Staff Physician
Brandie Millovitsch, R.N. – Research Coordinator
Liver Conditions
Video: What is NASH?
Video: University Gastroenterology's Liver Team Discusses Hepatitis C