This page is for patients and families navigating liver disease. Use it to prepare for your consultation, understand your condition, and know when to seek urgent help.
Before Your Consultation — Documents to Bring
Whether you are seeing Dr. Kalal in person at Gleneagles Hospital or via video consultation, having these documents ready saves time and allows a more focused appointment:
- All blood test reports: LFT (liver function tests), CBC, INR/PT, kidney function, blood sugar, HBsAg, Anti-HCV
- Ultrasound abdomen / CT scan / MRI liver — reports and images (on CD, USB, or a digital sharing link)
- FibroScan (liver stiffness) report if performed
- Endoscopy reports (upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy) if any
- Liver biopsy slides and pathology report (if applicable)
- Complete list of current medications, including supplements and ayurvedic/herbal preparations
- Previous hospital discharge summaries
- Any prior specialist letters or second opinions
For virtual consultations: scan or photograph reports clearly and send to dr.chetankalal@gmail.com at least 24 hours before your appointment.
When to Seek Urgent Care
Go to a hospital emergency department immediately if you or a family member has any of the following:
- Vomiting blood or passing black/tarry stools — possible variceal or peptic bleed. This is a medical emergency.
- Sudden severe confusion, drowsiness, or inability to recognise family members — possible hepatic encephalopathy.
- Deeply yellow eyes and skin with fever and rigors — possible acute liver failure or cholangitis.
- Sudden swelling of the abdomen with fever and abdominal pain — possible infected ascites (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis).
- Loss of consciousness or seizures in a patient with known liver disease.
- Jaundice deepening rapidly over days in a patient with cirrhosis — possible ACLF.
In Mumbai, Gleneagles Hospital emergency is available 24 hours: +91 22 6267 7777, Vikhroli West.
Understanding Your Liver Tests
- ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT) — markers of liver cell inflammation. Raised values indicate the liver cells are stressed or injured.
- Total Bilirubin — reflects the liver’s ability to process bile. High bilirubin causes yellow eyes and skin (jaundice).
- Albumin — protein made only by the liver. Below 3.5 g/dL indicates impaired synthetic function.
- INR / Prothrombin Time — measures clotting ability. A raised INR (above 1.5) means the liver is not making enough clotting factors — a sign of significant dysfunction.
- Platelets — often low in cirrhosis because an enlarged spleen traps them (hypersplenism).
- AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein) — a tumour marker used in liver cancer (HCC) surveillance. A rising AFP in a cirrhotic patient needs urgent imaging.
- HBsAg — positive means active Hepatitis B infection.
- Anti-HCV — positive means prior Hepatitis C exposure. A follow-up HCV RNA test confirms active infection.
- FibroScan (kPa value) — measures liver stiffness as a proxy for fibrosis. Below 7 kPa is normal; above 12-14 kPa suggests significant fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Kalal has answered 20 of the most common hepatology questions in plain English — from “What is cirrhosis?” to “Can hepatitis C be cured?” to “How is a liver transplant allocated in India?” to “What is ACLF?”
Condition Guides
In-depth articles written by Dr. Kalal for patients and families:
- Liver Transplant in India — LDLT, DDLT, costs, outcomes, what to expect
- MASLD / Fatty Liver Disease — causes, stages, and treatment in 2026
- Cirrhosis — what it means and how it is managed
- ACLF — when chronic liver disease becomes an acute emergency
- Liver Transplant Guidelines 2026 — EASL update and India context
- When to seek a hepatology second opinion
Appointment and Contact
Gleneagles Hospital, Vikhroli West, Mumbai
Mon / Wed / Thu / Fri: 12 noon to 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 1 pm
Other locations (Saifee, Hinduja Khar, Breach Candy) by appointment.
WhatsApp +91 83294 76669 View all services
International and NRI patients: see the international patients page.