Acute on Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) is a well-recognized rapid course of liver disease that can have devastating consequences on patients. At this symposium, faculty will discuss ACLF’s common triggers and explore current perspectives of management in the context of these triggering events. Topics covered include microbiome analysis to identify high-risk patients and the role of transplantation.

Shiv Kumar Sarin
Jacqueline G. O'Leary

At this symposium, experts on pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) will review the role of inflammation in etiopathogenesis of common comorbidities and discuss emerging topics in pediatric acute-on-chronic liver failure and extrahepatic support strategies. They will discuss the complexity of medical decision making in PALF and review indications for liver transplant in these patients.

Edward Behrens
Anil Dhawan
James E. Squires
Janis M. Stoll

This two-session program explores the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of kidney failure in patients with cirrhosis. The first session reviews chronic kidney manifestations of portal hypertension, including sodium retention, ascites and chronic kidney failure. The second session discusses acute kidney injury in ACLF. Each part includes a case presentation to highlight management controversies, expert panel interviews and Q&A.

Agustin Albillos
Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao
Constantine J. Karvellas
Josh Levitsky
Puneeta Tandon
Florence Wong

AASLD Guideline/Guidance Statements on treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) are now updated to reflect data published since 2010, when the previous versions were released. At this session, the guidelines’ authors will highlight important changes hepatologists should know and discuss controversial or challenging issues in treating patients with these chronic liver diseases.

Julie Heimbach
Keith D. Lindor
Michael R. Lucey

Review data from ongoing clinical trials for alcoholic hepatitis, explore the role of early liver transplantation and discuss the management of alcohol use disorder in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and acute on chronic liver failure. Topics covered include trial design considering standards of care and liver transplantation’s emerging role and subject recruitment challenges for clinical trials in alcoholic hepatitis.

Patrick S. Kamath
Lorenzo Leggio
Bernd Schnabl
Vijay Shah

The Career Development Workshop is designed for hepatologists in the early career stage. Participants will explore how to maximize career opportunities in basic and clinical research, and will discuss potential sources of research funding for each pathway. They will also review an array of career pathways in both academic and community practice, and possible rewards and challenges hepatologists may encounter.

Kimberly Ann Brown
Oren K. Fix
Ayman A. Koteish
Valentina Medici
Sonali Paul
Elliot B. Tapper
Monica A. Tincopa

Recent approval of the synthetic FXR agonist obeticholic acid for primary biliary cholangitis treatment shows that targeting nuclear receptors in treating liver diseases, particularly cholestatic and autoimmune conditions, has therapeutic potential.

Saul J. Karpen
Keith D. Lindor
Huiping Zhou

What are the hotly debated issues in clinical hepatology today? At this session, explore current controversies in the field, including the role of statins, optimal management of acute gastric variceal bleeding and treatment of HCV in people who inject drugs. Speakers will then propose evidence-based guidance to address these difficult or challenging issues.

Jaime Bosch
Patrick Grant Northup
Shiv Kumar Sarin
Paul J. Thuluvath

The microbiome is recognized as an important player in liver disease pathogenesis. The liver’s close proximity to the gut makes it particularly susceptible to changes in the intestinal microbiome. This workshop uses the microbiome as an example to facilitate appreciation of the tools available to perform clinical research, as well as specific research tactics for microbiome-related study.

Mamatha Bhat
Anna Mae Diehl
Herbert Tilg

Review key highlights from all the exciting clinical research presented at The Liver Meeting® 2019.

Kathleen E. Corey