This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The Pasadena Liver Center is a liver-focused medical practice in Pasadena, California, led by hepatologist Dr. Edward Mena. Established in 2007, the center concentrates on the diagnosis and long-term management of liver disease, from fatty liver and hepatitis to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This guide explains what a liver center like this one does, what a liver specialist treats, and when it may make sense to see a hepatologist in Pasadena. You can learn more directly on the Pasadena Liver Center website.

A bright, sun-drenched wide photograph capturing the facade of a multi-story, tan-colored office building under a clear blue sky. Bright natural sunlight from the right illuminates the structured exterior, casting distinct, crisp shadows of the leafy green trees onto the textured cladding. The building features rhythmic horizontal bands of continuous, dark-tinted windows. The foreground is defined by manicured landscaping along a sidewalk, including purple-flowering plants (like lavender) and various succulents. Several large, full-foliage trees are positioned along the building's front, while a tall, slender palm tree stands on the far right. Prominently displayed on the right-hand wall panel of the building, between the floors, is the large, bold, dark three-digit numeral '301' in a modern sans-serif font.

About the Pasadena Liver Center

The center describes its mission simply: to improve the liver health of the community it serves. In practice, that means caring for the whole person rather than a single lab value, coordinating services for people with complex medical needs, and involving patients in decisions about their own care. It is a specialty practice, so it tends to work alongside a person’s primary care doctor rather than replacing them.

Meet the Team

Dr. Edward Mena serves as hepatologist and medical director, with a background that includes a hepatology fellowship and years of focus on liver disease, including hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer. He also leads outreach in the Latino, Armenian, and other local communities where these conditions can be common. The center rounds out its care with nurse practitioners and physician assistants, so patients often see a coordinated team rather than a single clinician. The practice is located at 301 S. Fair Oaks Ave, Suite 305, in Pasadena.

Seeing the same team over time has practical value. Familiar clinicians can track subtle changes, remember the details of a person’s history, and build the kind of trust that makes long-term liver care easier to stay committed to.

Conditions a Liver Specialist Manages

A hepatologist is a doctor who specializes in the liver, and a liver disease doctor often manages conditions that primary care may first detect on routine blood work. The liver is quiet by nature: it can be under strain for years without obvious symptoms, which is why specialist care leans heavily on testing, imaging, and tracking trends over time.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease, in which fat builds up in liver cells, has become one of the most common reasons people are referred to a liver specialist. In its more active form it can cause inflammation and, over time, scarring. A fatty liver clinic setting allows for careful monitoring and lifestyle guidance, and Dr. Mena’s interests include fatty liver disease in both adults and, in some cases, younger patients.

Because the fatty liver often develops quietly alongside changes in weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol, care usually looks at the whole metabolic picture rather than the liver alone. Steady follow-up lets a specialist see whether the liver is stable or changing over time, which shapes how closely it needs to be watched.

Hepatitis and Cirrhosis

Viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis B and C, is a core focus of liver care because these infections can quietly injure the liver for years. Left unmanaged, ongoing liver injury can progress to cirrhosis, or advanced scarring. A liver center manages these conditions with monitoring and treatment, and coordinates with transplant centers when care becomes more complex.

Modern treatment has changed the outlook for many people with viral hepatitis, and ongoing monitoring helps a specialist adjust care as needed. The aim is to protect the liver from further injury and to catch any progression early, while keeping the person’s broader health in view.

Liver Cancer Screening

People with long-standing liver disease face a higher risk of liver cancer, so screening and early detection are an important part of specialist care. Managing and, when possible, curing primary liver cancer is among the areas the Pasadena Liver Center highlights in its work.

When Should You See a Liver Specialist?

Many people wonder when a liver concern moves from a primary care conversation to a specialist visit. There is no single rule, but there are common prompts. A referral to a hepatologist often follows repeatedly abnormal liver enzymes on blood work, an imaging finding such as a fatty or scarred liver, a known hepatitis infection, or a family history of liver disease.

Other reasons include unexplained fatigue paired with abnormal labs, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or ongoing questions about how alcohol, medications, or metabolic health are affecting the liver. Because symptoms often appear late, a specialist visit is frequently about getting ahead of a problem rather than reacting to one.

It is also reasonable to ask for a referral simply to understand a finding. A single abnormal result does not always mean serious disease, and part of a specialist’s job is to put a number in context, explain what it does and does not suggest, and recommend whether any further testing is worthwhile.

How Liver Care Connects to the Rest of Your Health

Liver health rarely stands alone. It is tied to metabolism, digestion, the heart, and the kidneys, so good liver care usually involves teamwork across several kinds of clinicians. For patients in the Pasadena area, that wider circle of care can include gastroenterologists and a steady primary care relationship.

Understanding Your Blood Work

Much of liver care begins with lab results. Enzymes such as ALT and AST, along with markers like albumin and bilirubin, help show how the liver is functioning. If you would like a plain-language walkthrough of these panels, this guide to reading CBC and CMP blood results explains what the common markers mean and why trends over time matter more than a single number.

Gastroenterology and Digestive Care

Because the liver is part of the digestive system, liver concerns and gut concerns often overlap, and some people benefit from seeing a gastroenterologist as well. In the local network, that can include Jay Krishnan, M.D., a gastroenterologist, and Cameron Sikavi, M.D., who practices gastroenterology and internal medicine. These are separate clinicians from the Pasadena Liver Center, offered here as additional options for related digestive care.

Working With Your Primary Care Doctor

A specialist works best alongside a primary care doctor who sees the whole picture and helps coordinate follow-up. For primary care in Pasadena, patients can consider Cleo Tsolakoglou-Williams, M.D., a family medicine physician. And when getting to an office is difficult, it is possible to find a doctor who can visit at home, which can make ongoing monitoring easier for people managing a chronic condition.

Finding Liver Care in Pasadena

Pasadena sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, and it is well served by medical offices, imaging centers, and specialty practices. That makes it a practical place to search for a liver specialist near you without long drives across the region. Fair Oaks Avenue, where the Pasadena Liver Center is located, is a familiar medical corridor close to the heart of the city.

If you are considering specialist care, the most reliable next step is to reach the practice directly and ask about services, availability, and what to bring. You can find current contact details and office information on the Pasadena Liver Center website. Coming in with your recent lab results and a short list of questions helps make the first visit productive.

If travel is a barrier, it can help to plan visits around your energy and to bring a family member who can take notes. Keeping a simple record of your results and symptoms over time also gives any clinician a clearer picture and supports better decisions about your care.

Pasadena Liver Center