Dr Phillip Harrison

Dr Phillip Harrison
Hepatology (liver specialist)
Central London


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Dr Phillip Harrison

Hepatologist in
London

BSc MBBS PhD FRCP FRCPE


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Dr Phillip Harrison areas of expertise:

Professional statement

Dr Phillip Harrison is an internationally recognised London-based physician and one of the UK's leading specialists in hepatology and liver diseases. He specialises in abnormal liver functions, viral hepatitis, liver transplantation and interventional endoscopy, specifically ERCP. As chair of the NICE cirrhosis guideline development group, he is at the forefront of liver disease research and has written prolifically for numerous newspapers, as well as appearing on national television to draw public attention to the dangers of liver disease. His practice is based at the prestigious London Liver Centre, London Bridge Hospital, where he works alongside a team of some of the country's best specialists in this field, attracting patients from all over the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. 

 Videos of doctor

Consultants Corner - Consultant Hepatol...

 Credentials

GMC: ‍2917199

 Professional experience

• More than 35 years of experience
• Consultant Hepatologist, London Liver Centre, London Bridge Hospital (1996 - present)
• Consultant Hepatologist, King´s College London (1994 - present)
• General Secretary, British Association for the Study of the Liver (2011 - 2014)
• Accredited endoscopist

 ...

 Sub-specialties

• Hepatobiliary medicine
• Fatty liver
• Liver disease
• Viral hepatitis
• Liver transplantation
• ERCP
• Portal hypertension
• Primary liver cancer
• Cirrhosis

 ...

 Teaching posts

• Lectures GPs at London Bridge Hospital
• Senior Lecturer, King´s College London (1994 - 2014)

 Education

• King's College London, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Molecular Medicine (1990-1993)
• King's College London Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Medicine (1989 – 1990)
• St Georges Hospital Medical School Bachelor of Science (BSc), Pharmacology (1978 – 1984)
• St Georges Hospital Medical School Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Medicine (1978 – 1984)

 ...

 Publications and conferences

• Has appeared on national television and contributed to newspapers highlighting liver disease

 Professional membership

• General Secretary of the British Association for the Study of the Liver
• Chair of the NICE Cirrhosis Guideline Development Group

Languages spoken

  • English

Diseases, Medical Tests and Treatments

ERCP

What is an ERCP? Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an invasive diagnostic and treatment procedure. ERCP combines the use of ...

Fatty liver

What is fatty liver? Fatty liver disease is the accumulation of fatty acids and triglycerides in liver cells. There are two types: Non-alcoho ...

Hepatobiliary

Hepatobiliary medicine is concerned with the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts system.

Liver disease

What are liver diseases?           The liver is one of the biggest and most important organs. It plays a central role in metabolic processes such a ...

Liver transplant

The liver is a major organ, with the main function of filtering the blood that goes around the body and producing bile that breaks down foods in the small intestine. If the liver becomes so diseased or damaged that it cannot heal, known as liver failure, then it may be necessary for it to be transplanted with a replacement healthy one.   What are the main causes of liver damage?   The main causes of liver damage and cirrhosis include:   Alcoholic-related liver disease (ARLD) Viral hepatitis Cirrhosis Liver cancer   What are the different types of liver transplant?   Because donor livers are difficult to come by, and because there is a long waiting list of recipients for donor livers, there is a strict assessment of who is suitable for a liver transplant. A patient is considered a suitable recipient if there lifespan would be shorter without having the transplant, and that there is at least a 50% chance of surviving for five years following transplantation. The different ways that a liver transplant can be carried out are: Deceased liver donation Where the donated liver comes from a person who has recently died and that has a healthy liver. Living donor transplantation This form of transplantation takes a section of liver from a living donor and implanted into the existing liver. Because the liver is able to regenerate itself, with the support of the section of healthy liver, the diseased liver will regenerate. The donor’s existing section of healthy liver will also regenerate.  Split donation Similar to a deceased liver donation, a healthy liver is removed from a recently deceased patient. The liver is then split and donated to two separate patients where it will regenerate into two complete healthy organs.   After liver transplantation   Following liver transplant surgery, the recipient patient should see an almost instant improvement of the symptoms they were experiencing from the diseased liver. Patients will often be able to return to their usual activities within a few months, but complete recovery may take much longer. A transplant patient will need to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their life to stop the body rejecting the donor liver.   Liver transplant risks   There can be some risks following liver transplant surgery, despite the outlook being good in most cases, with around eight out of ten liver transplant patients going on to live for at least five more years, and many living for more than 20 years. The main problems with liver transplant surgery include: the donated liver being rejected by your body the donated liver not functioning at first, meaning another transplant needs to be carried out straight away bleeding an increased risk of infection blood flow problems to and from the liver an increased risk of skin cancer To make an appointment with a liver specialist, click here. ...

Viral hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the liver and, as a result, causes it to malfunction. Hepatitis can be caused by immune cells of the body that attack the liver, virus infections, of which six types are known: A, B, C, D, E, and G; liver damage caused by excess of alcohol or toxic substances and, finally, due to overdoses of medications such as acetaminophen. The evolution and complications of the disease are different in each case. The main symptoms of hepatitis are fatigue, nausea and vomiting, high fever and headaches, pharyngitis and cough. In addition to these symptoms, there is a diffuse pain in the liver and a yellowish colour of the skin. ...

Alcoholic liver disease

This disease, also known as ARLD, is caused by excess alcohol consumption. The liver usually regenerates, but with excess alcohol consumption over time, it can cease to properly function. There are three stages: alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The sooner any signs of disease are detected, and the sooner the alcohol consumption is reduced or ceased, the better the chance of recovery.  ...

Alcoholism

Toxic addictions are chronic illnesses that affect the brain and behaviour, through dependency on one or more harmful drugs to the body. Symptoms of alcohol addiction are a consuming anxiety; loss of control and the inability to stop drinking; physical dependence, which causes withdrawal symptoms (sweating, fever, shivering ...); and tolerance, which is the need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol. In addition, excessive consumption of this drug has serious health problems, both mental (depression, psychosis ...) and physical (damage to liver, brain ...), and even death. Currently, there are successful detoxification processes, which help patients manage to overcome their addiction, by eliminating or controlling the symptoms of withdrawal. ...

Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis happens when the body's immune system recognises the liver cells as foreign and starts to attack them, damaging this vital organ. ...

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the impairment of an organ due to the proliferation of fibrous tissue and the consequent atrophy of the cells. One of the most common manifestations of this disease is liver cirrhosis, which affects the liver and produces chronic organ damage. There are two main causes for liver cirrhosis: alcoholism and hepatitis C infection. Symptoms of liver cirrhosis include yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes and eyes, weakness and loss of weight, vomiting blood or blood in the stool. It is an irreversible and chronic disease that can lead to many complications and causes liver malfunction, and in extreme cases, the patient may need a transplant. Hepatic biliary cirrhosis is a rare disease that causes inflammation of the bile ducts of the liver, so it blocks the flow of bile, an essential fluid for the proper functioning of this organ. ...

Drug induced liver injury

This condition is caused by ingestion of medication, supplements or herbal remedies that are toxic and damage liver function. The effects can be jaundice, liver failure or even death, and usually occur after long-term exposure to the toxin. ...

FibroScan

What is it? A Fibroscan is a test that allows the assessment of hepatic fibrosis as well as the quantification of liver fat. It is a non-invasive technique that is fast and reliable. It is particularly useful as an alternative to a biopsy.       Advantages of the Fibroscan      Regardless of the cause, diseases affecting the liver generally cause inflammation which destroys cells. After this, repair techniques naturally develop with a progressive accumulation of collagen fibre.   Knowing the degree of fibrosis is useful for diagnosing as well as monitoring and checking any disease progression. In the past this was traditionally done by a liver biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a small sample of the liver to analyse it by puncturing the skin or via the intrahepatic (transjugular) veins. Despite having been the most widely used technique, a liver biopsy has its drawbacks. The patient must be at the hospital for between 12 and 24 hours, and the assessment is not always easy to read as liver fibrosis distribution is vague and not homogenous. Complications may arise from a liver biopsy, however, most are mild such as pain at the puncture site, around the liver area, or in the neck or shoulder. More serious complications may include haemorrhage, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), haemothorax, organ perferation, biliary peritonitis, and in very extreme but rare cases, death.      How can you prepare for it? The patient should fast for two hours before the test. Once there, they lie down with their right arm raised and placed behind the neck. A transducer or probe is used to measure, and a gel is used on the surface. As it is a non-invasive test, the patient will not feel any discomfort. There are larger scanners available for obese patients. At least 10 measurements are made.   Why would you do it?  Fibroscan is quite commonly used in patients who have been diagnosed with or are being monitored for hepatitis C (HCV), chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B (HBV), a combination of hepatitis C and HIV, alcoholic liver disease, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) non-alcoholic, chronic cholestatic diseases, liver cirrhosis, and monitoring for pre- and post-liver transplant patients.    What would a “bad” result mean? Cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and fatty liver are on the rise in the UK. An increase in the number of new cases is expected due to population diet changes and the increase in metabolic syndromes linked to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia (increase in cholesterol and triglycerides). As well as measuring fibrosis and the CAP (Controlled Attenuation Parameter), the fibroscan is able to quantify liver fat content, which is crucial for early diagnosis. The test allows the physician to find out the stage of the liver fibrosis (hardness), from a mild stage to a more advanced stage (cirrhosis). Who performs a Fibroscan? Fibroscan tests are largely performed by hepatologists and gastroenterologists. ...

Hepatology

Hepatology refers to the branch of medicine which incorporates the study of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and biliary system, and the management of their related disorders. Hepatologists diagnose, manage, and try to prevent diseases affecting these areas, some of the most common being all forms of hepatitis, liver disease, jaundice, liver cancer, and pancreatitis.  ...

Liver

What is the liver? The liver is one of the vital organs, which sits on the right side of the abdomen. The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It is also a gland, which means it synthesises substances to then release them in the bloodstream. Glands have different functions in the body, and the liver has many, performing over an estimated 500 different functions. What does the liver do? The liver’s main function is to filter the blood which comes through to it from the digestive tract, then pass it around the rest of the body, filtering toxins and making chemicals safe or metabolising them. The liver plays an important part in nutrition, metabolism, hormone production, and functions of the blood. It is an essential organ in the body, and if a significant amount of liver tissue is damaged, it can cause problems such as liver disease. What happens when the liver is not functioning properly? If the liver does not function as it should, different symptoms can appear, such as jaundice (when the skin looks yellow in colour), pain in the abdomen where the liver is located, bruising easily, swelling in the abdomen, nausea or vomiting, sleepiness or perhaps slurred speech, and general fatigue or feeling unwell. Depending on the condition, different symptoms present, and a liver function test may be necessary to determine the cause. Conditions which can affect the liver include: Hepatitis, both viral and non-viral. Scarring on the liver, otherwise known as cirrhosis. Liver failure, where the liver fails to function as it should. There are different stages of liver failure, known as chronic and acute. Chronic liver failure occurs over months or years, whereas acute liver failure comes on suddenly and rapidly. Liver cancer Fatty liver disease There are many more conditions which affect the liver, which can be diagnosed by a GP or healthcare provider, and if necessary treated by a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist, or a hepatologist, a doctor specialising in the liver and its related functions.  ...

Liver cancer

Liver cancer is a form of cancer that starts in the liver, as opposed to secondary liver cancer which starts elsewhere in the body and travels to the liver. Most cancer that is found in the liver is secondary cancer, as many cells travelling around the body end up in the liver, making it more susceptible to liver cancer. If the cancer is a secondary cancer in the liver, it will be treated in the same way that the primary cancer would be treated, such as if it is secondary breast cancer in the liver, the cancer will be treated in the same way as breast cancer, as the cells are the same, only they have travelled to the liver.   Types of liver cancer   There are a number of different types of cancer that start in the liver. These include:   Primary and secondary liver cancer As previously highlighted, the liver is vulnerable to primary liver cancer, which means the cancer begins in the liver, or secondary liver cancer, meaning the cancer cells travelled to the liver through the blood stream from another cancerous part of the body. Cancer is treated according the primary type it is, so even if the cancer is present in the liver, in cases of secondary cancer it will be treated in the same way the primary cancer is treated. Most cancers found in the liver are secondary cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Otherwise known as hepatoma, HCC is the most common form of primary liver cancer. The cancer forms in the liver cells, called hepatocytes, and is more common in older men, especially those who have suffered with cirrhosis. Fibrolamellar carcinoma This form of liver cancer is a rare form of HCC, and affects the fibrous tissue of the liver cells. Fibrolemellar is more common in younger people, and is not linked to cirrhosis or hepatitis. Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) Rather than directly affecting the liver, cholangiocarcinoma develops in the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the stomach. Angiosarcoma This is a very rare form of liver cancer, and begins in the blood vessels of the liver. It affects men and women, most often aged in their 70s and 80s, and only affects around 10 people per year in the UK. Hepatoblastoma This is another very rare form of liver cancer, which usually affects young children below the age of three. There are usually only around 20 cases of hepatoblastoma per year in the UK.   Symptoms of liver cancer   The usual symptoms of liver cancer include: weight loss swelling of the abdomen jaundice pale-coloured or grey poo dark urine itchy skin high temperature worsening of health in patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis.   Treatment of liver cancer   There are a number of different treatment options available for liver cancer, depending on the type of liver cancer it is. The most common type is surgery, with removal of the tumour attempted at first. Liver function may be able to continue as normal if the liver was healthy to begin with. Liver transplant may also be required if the cancer has developed in a large amount of the liver. The specialist may decide to use localised treatments such as chemotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, radiation therapy or drug therapy. To make an appointment with a specialist regarding liver cancer, click here. ...

Liver cyst

A hepatic cyst is a cyst on the liver. It may be benign or malignant. Often there are no symptoms, but they can be discovered when a scan is performed on the liver. There are different types of hepatic cysts. ...

Liver function tests

What is a liver function test? Liver functions tests help diagnose and monitor liver disease by testing the blood. The tests measure the level of certain proteins and enzymes in the blood. Certain enzymes are released by the liver when it is damaged or diseased, and therefore it is helpful to measure these as an indicator. The same can be said for measuring proteins, such as bilirubin, which is a blood waste product that is usually cleared by a functioning liver. What does a liver function test involve? If your doctors recommends a liver function test, it is more than likely that a series of tests will be run which measure for different enzymes and proteins. During a liver function test, a sample of blood is taken through a small needle into a tube. The needle usually draws blood from the bend of your arm. Once a blood samples has been obtained, it will be sent to a laboratory for analysis, which can take either a few hours or a few days depending on whether the laboratory is located on-site or not.  What is a liver function test for? Typically, a liver function test is used to: Determine the severity of a disease, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) Screen for liver infections (e.g. hepatitis) Measure the progression of liver disease, such as hepatitis, and to see how successful treatment is Check for any side effects to medications If you are experiencing the following symptoms, a liver function test will be carried out to help determine a diagnosis: Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice) Fatigue  Nausea Little appetite Dark urine and light-coloured stool How can you prepare for a liver function test? Before a liver function test food and drink has to be avoided for a certain period as these can affect the results. Certain medications will also have to be avoided before a liver function test.  What would a “bad” result mean? Normal results differ for men, women and children. When you receive your results, your numbers will display next to the normal, healthy range. If your results are not normal, further tests will be carried out to aid a diagnosis, or treatment plan. Ultimately, your specialist will explain your results and when the next steps will be.  ...

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