Katherine A. Stuart is a hepatologist based in Brisbane, QLD. She looks after people with long-term and complex liver conditions, and she’s also used to helping when things get more serious, like with liver failure.
In her clinic, Katherine supports patients who may have viral hepatitis such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C. She also sees people with inflammation caused by the body’s immune system, including autoimmune hepatitis and problems linked to bile ducts, like primary sclerosing cholangitis. At times, she also helps manage ongoing liver issues connected to gut and bile infections, such as cholangitis.
Many of her patients live with cirrhosis, which is scarring in the liver. That can come with symptoms like jaundice, swelling in the belly (ascites), and ongoing discomfort. Katherine is careful with how she plans care, because liver disease can change over time, and complications can show up when you least expect them.
She often works alongside people dealing with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, especially when there are other health risks in the mix, like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D). When liver damage is linked to these issues, treatment is usually about more than one thing at once, including lifestyle support and regular monitoring.
Some cases involve severe or urgent complications. Katherine is familiar with situations such as hepatorenal syndrome, where kidney function can be affected by advanced liver disease. She also helps when patients develop infections or inflammation in the abdominal area, such as peritonitis, and she can support care when there are clotting problems, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
Her work may also include discussions around liver cancer, and what treatment planning can look like if transplant is being considered. In many cases, that means talking through the big picture, keeping things clear, and making sure patients understand what’s happening and why.
Katherine has clinical experience guiding people through different stages of liver disease. She focuses on steady, practical care, with follow-ups that match what’s going on for each person. Over time, that helps patients feel less lost as their condition changes.