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Nathalie H. Urrunaga, MD, MS, M.S.

Academic Title:

Associate Professor

Primary Appointment:

Medicine

Location:

UMMC N3W50

Phone (Primary):

410-328-0159

Fax:

410-328-1897

Education and Training

MD:

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia

Residency:

University of Texas Southwestern - Internal Medicine

Fellowship:

University of Maryland School of Medicine - Gastroenterology

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Transplant Hepatology

Certifications:

American Board of Internal Medicine

American Board of Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology

American Board of Internal Medicine - Transplant Hepatology

Languages Spoken: Spanish, English

Biosketch

Nathalie H. Urrunaga, M.D, M.S. is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Urrunaga received her medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru where she graduated with honors. She completed her postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Texas.

She completed her fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and her fellowship training in Transplant Hepatology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Urrunaga obtained a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland.

In addition to her clinical work, teaching is an important aspect of Dr. Urrunaga's professional journey. She shares her knowledge and expertise with students, residents, and fellows at UMSOM. She is also actively engaged in research, with multiple peer-reviewed articles, case reports and reviews already published.  Dr. Urrunaga also serves as the program director of the Transplant Hepatology fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. 

Research/Clinical Keywords

Cirrhosis, Liver Transplantation, Portal hypertension, Acute liver failure, Polycystic liver disease, Outcomes in liver disease.

Highlighted Publications

Urrunaga NH, Singal AG, Cuthbert JA, Rockey DC. Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Patients with Cirrhosis and Hemorrhagic Ascites.  Journal of Hepatology. 2013. Jun; 58 (6) 1113-8. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 23348236.

Urrunaga NH, Rachakonda V, Magder L, Mindikoglu A. Outcomes of Living versus Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure in the United States. Transplantation Proceedings. 2014. Jan; 46 (1) 219-224. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 2450755.

Urrunaga NH, Rockey DC. Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy and Colopathy. Clinics in Liver Disease. 2014 May;18(2):389-406. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 24679502.

Tang DM, Urrunaga NH, De Groot H, von Rosenvinge EC, Xie G, Ghazi LJ. Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile. Case Reports in Medicine. Volume 2014. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 25214850

Urrunaga NH, Jadeja RN, Rachakonda V, Ahmad D, McLean LP, Cheng K, Shah V, Twaddell WS, Raufman JP, Khurana S. M1 muscarinic receptors modify oxidative stress response to acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. Free Radic Biol Med. 2015 Jan; 78:66-81. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 25452146

Urrunaga NH, Mindikoglu AL, Rockey DC. Renal dysfunction in cirrhosis. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015 May;31(3):215-23. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 25763790

Farooq PD, Urrunaga NH, Tang DM, von Rosenvinge EC. Pseudomembranous colitis. Dis Mon. 2015 May;61(5):181-206. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 25769243

Jadeja RN, Urrunaga NH, Dash S, Khurana S, Saxena NK. Withaferin-A Reduces Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice. Biochem Pharmacol. 2015 Sep 1;97(1):122-32. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 26212553

Rachakonda V, Jadeja R, Urrunaga NH, Shah Nirish, Ahmad Daniel, Cheng Kunrong, Twaddell W, Raufman JP, Khurana S. M1 Muscarinic Receptor Deficiency Attenuates Azoxymethane-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Mice. Scientific Reports Journal 2015 Sep 16;5:14110. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 26374068.

Urrunaga NH, Magder LS, Weir MR, Rockey DC, Mindikoglu AL. Prevalence, Severity and Impact of Renal Dysfunction in  Acute Liver Failure on the U.S. Liver Transplant Waiting List. Digestive Diseases and Sciences Journal 2016 Jan;61(1):309-16. Cited in Pubmed; PMID 26386861.

Research Interests

Dr. Urrunaga has focused her research on liver diseases including cirrhosis and complications of portal hypertension, acute liver failure and renal dysfunction, polycystic liver disease, outcomes of living-donor liver transplantation in acute liver failure and the role of muscarinic receptors in modulating acute and chronic liver injury.