Justin Belcher, MD, PhD, FASN
Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Management of Hyponatremia in Cirrhosis
Belcher J. Management of Hyponatremia in Cirrhosis. Current Hepatology Reports 2026, 25: 18. DOI: 10.1007/s11901-026-00736-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitorsAssociated with significant morbidityFree water restrictionManagement of hyponatremiaCo-transporter inhibitorsMultifaceted treatment approachAlbumin infusionSymptomatic patientsReceptor antagonistSignificant morbidityHypertonic salineSodium-glucoseLiver transplantationClinical impactSolution intakeTreatment strategiesComplex pathophysiologyCirrhosisHyponatremiaTreatment approachesPatientsPathophysiologyEtiologyAcuityVasopressors413 TERLIPRESSIN VS OTHER VASOCONSTRICTORS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEPATORENAL SYNDROME: A PROPENSITY-MATCHED ANALYSIS
St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Patidar K, Belcher J, Teixeira J, Cullaro G, Ouyang T, Orman E, Neyra J, Whittaker S, Allegretti A. 413 TERLIPRESSIN VS OTHER VASOCONSTRICTORS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEPATORENAL SYNDROME: A PROPENSITY-MATCHED ANALYSIS. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2026, 103: s-1375-s-1376. DOI: 10.1016/s0016-5107(26)03329-8.Peer-Reviewed Original Research413 TERLIPRESSIN VS OTHER VASOCONSTRICTORS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEPATORENAL SYNDROME: A PROPENSITY-MATCHED ANALYSIS
St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Patidar K, Belcher J, Teixeira J, Cullaro G, Ouyang T, Orman E, Neyra J, Whittaker S, Allegretti A. 413 TERLIPRESSIN VS OTHER VASOCONSTRICTORS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEPATORENAL SYNDROME: A PROPENSITY-MATCHED ANALYSIS. Gastroenterology 2026, 170: s-1375-s-1376. DOI: 10.1016/s0016-5085(26)03398-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBiomarkers of inflammation and risk of adverse events in patients with cirrhosis.
Puthumana J, Belcher J, Garcia-Tsao G, Ix J, Obeid W, Sanyal A, Parikh C. Biomarkers of inflammation and risk of adverse events in patients with cirrhosis. Liver Transplantation 2026 PMID: 41894248, DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000862.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUrine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1Acute kidney injuryIn-Hospital ComplicationsAcute kidney injury progressionTNFR-1Inflammatory biomarkersPlasma tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1Odds ratioUrine YKL-40Spontaneous bacterial peritonitisTumor necrosis factor receptor 1High-risk patientsRisk of adverse eventsTertiary care centerBaseline kidney functionBiomarkers of inflammationProspective cohort studyChemoattractant protein-1Variceal bleedingBacterial peritonitisSevere complicationsMELD scoreKidney injuryAdverse events
2025
Kidney Tubule Secretion Can Discriminate the Cause of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis
Puthumana J, Belcher J, Garcia-Tsao G, Sanyal A, Seegmiller J, Garimella P, Parikh C, Ix J. Kidney Tubule Secretion Can Discriminate the Cause of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis. Clinical Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2025, 20: 1496-1502. PMID: 40956621, PMCID: PMC12614855, DOI: 10.2215/cjn.0000000814.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute kidney injuryAcute tubular necrosisHepatorenal syndromePrerenal azotemiaSecretion scoreTubular secretionKidney injuryDifferential diagnosisDifferential diagnosis of acute kidney injuryBaseline estimated glomerular filtration rateHospitalized patientsUrine-to-plasma ratiosDiagnosis of acute kidney injuryEnd stage liver diseaseTertiary care centerGlomerular filtration rateProximal tubular secretionStage liver diseaseAssociated with lower oddsPrognostic implicationsSevere complicationsClinical characteristicsTubular injuryUrine specimensTubular necrosisTo Stay or to Fold: Biomarkers and the Management of Potentially Hemodynamic Acute Kidney Injury
Belcher J. To Stay or to Fold: Biomarkers and the Management of Potentially Hemodynamic Acute Kidney Injury. American Journal Of Kidney Diseases 2025, 86: 143-145. PMID: 40504055, DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2025.04.006.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersPredicting the Use of Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Cirrhosis—Does Diagnosis Matter?
Belcher J. Predicting the Use of Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Cirrhosis—Does Diagnosis Matter? Digestive Diseases And Sciences 2025, 70: 2926-2928. PMID: 40471496, DOI: 10.1007/s10620-025-09143-3.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2024
Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Cirrhosis and Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the HRS-HARMONY Consortium
St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Ouyang T, Patidar K, Belcher J, Cullaro G, Regner K, Chung R, Ufere N, Velez J, Neyra J, Asrani S, Wadei H, Teixeira J, Saly D, Levitsky J, Orman E, Sawinski D, Dageforde L, Allegretti A, Consortium H. Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Cirrhosis and Chronic Kidney Disease: Results From the HRS-HARMONY Consortium. Clinical Gastroenterology And Hepatology 2024, 23: 1755-1765.e4. PMID: 39675402, PMCID: PMC12163100, DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2024.10.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute kidney injuryChronic kidney diseaseLiver function parametersKidney diseaseKidney injuryAssociated with lower 90-day mortalityRates of intensive care unit admissionLiver diseaseAlcohol-associated liver diseaseIntensive care unit admissionMELD-Na scoreRenal replacement therapyShort-term outcomesFunction parametersComparison of outcomesPeak creatinineAdmission creatinineTransplant listing statusReplacement therapyUnit admissionPrimary outcomeCirrhosisMetabolic dysfunctionHospitalized patientsPatientsAssociation of Hepatorenal Syndrome-Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy
Cama-Olivares A, Ouyang T, Takeuchi T, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Cullaro G, Karvellas C, Levitsky J, Orman E, Patidar K, Regner K, Saly D, Sawinski D, Sharma P, Teixeira J, Ufere N, Velez J, Wadei H, Wahid N, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Belcher J, Cama-Olivares A, Ouyang T, Takeuchi T, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Cullaro G, Karvellas C, Levitsky J, Orman E, Patidar K, Regner K, Saly D, Sawinski D, Sharma P, Teixeira J, Ufere N, Velez J, Wadei H, Wahid N, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Belcher J. Association of Hepatorenal Syndrome-Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy. Kidney360 2024, 6: 247-256. PMID: 39348201, PMCID: PMC11882256, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000000589.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEtiology of AKIHRS-AKIAKI-RRTRenal replacement therapyContinuous RRTIntermittent hemodialysisAdult patientsHospitalized patientsAKI etiologyReplacement therapyAssociated with increased 90-day mortalityMulticenter retrospective cohort studyNon-HRS-AKIAssociated with increased mortalityConsecutive adult patientsRetrospective cohort studyHospital network systemHepatorenal syndromeContemporary cohortInpatient populationMechanical ventilationRRT modalityCohort studyClinical variablesPrimary outcomeImpact of acute kidney injury response on survival and liver transplant rates in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation: Results from the HRS-HARMONY consortium
Li X, Ouyang T, Belcher J, Patidar K, Cullaro G, Asrani S, Wadei H, Simonetto D, Regner K, Dageforde L, Przybyszewski E, Wilechansky R, Sharma P, Ufere N, Duarte-Rojo A, Wahid N, Orman E, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Allegretti A, collaborative I. Impact of acute kidney injury response on survival and liver transplant rates in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation: Results from the HRS-HARMONY consortium. Liver Transplantation 2024, 30: 1106-1115. PMID: 39073567, PMCID: PMC13268234, DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000445.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAKI responseAcute kidney injuryTransplant-free survivalLiver transplantationLT ratesCirrhosis patientsNon-respondersTime of liver transplantationCourse of hospitalized patientsNo responseRetrospective multicenter studyMELD-Na scoreResponse to therapyResponse to treatmentLiver transplant ratesRate of LTOverall survivalMulticenter studyKidney injuryCirrhosis etiologyCirrhosisHospitalized patientsTransplantationPatientsInjury response
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Justin Belcher, MD, PhD, is a nephrologist who cares for people with a range of kidney-related conditions, including sudden loss of kidney function (due to acute kidney injury), chronic kidney disease (which develops over time), and disorders affecting the balance of acids, bases, and electrolytes. He also manages complex cases that require close monitoring in critical care settings.
As an associate professor of medicine (nephrology) at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Belcher studies how new biological indicators can improve the diagnosis and treatment of kidney injury in people with cirrhosis. He is also dedicated to teaching and mentoring students, residents, and fellows.
Dr. Belcher received his medical training at Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his residency, chief residency, and fellowship in nephrology, and earned a doctoral degree from Yale School of Medicine.