The current definition of recompensation, established at the Baveno consensus several years ago, was largely based on expert opinion at a time when robust longitudinal data were limited. Since then, accumulating clinical evidence has begun to redefine the concept of recompensation, suggesting that a broader and more heterogeneous group of patients may experience meaningful and sustained improvement. However, major questions remain unresolved, including whether recompensation can be recognized in patients requiring low-dose diuretics, in those treated with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and whether it should be restricted to etiologies that can be cured or instead defined by sustained clinical and functional improvement. In addition, it remains unclear whether the concept of recompensation can be applied to pediatric populations, where data are particularly scarce.

The session speakers explore these evolving definitions, review emerging evidence and openly discussing ongoing controversies, including whether current practice should continue to rely on the Baveno definition or move toward updated, data-driven frameworks, with the goal of clarifying how recompensation should be understood and applied in contemporary clinical practice.

Take advange of the opportunity to learn from past women presidents of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in this engaging and insightful discussion. Panelists reflect on their individual pathways to leadership, discuss challenges and successes they encountered throughout their careers, and offer guidance for aspiring future leaders. Following a brief introduction providing an overview of pathways to leadership within AASLD, the remainder of the session is conducted in a panel discussion format.

The diagnosis of hepatic vascular disorders raises several challenges for clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists. These disorders include sinusoidal/postsinusoidal etiologies like sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), Budd-Chiari syndrome, and cardiac/pericardial disease. Diagnosis of these conditions as well as the interpretation of fibrosis and nodular lesions in this setting can be challenging. The terminology and diagnostic criteria for portal vein and presinusoidal etiologies are also not well defined and have been grouped under a variety of terms like noncirrhotic portal fibrosis, idiopathic portal hypertension, and obliterative portal venopathy.

The term porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) has been recently proposed. A multisociety initiative to review and standardize the nomenclature was jointly managed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the European Association for the Study of the Liver, the Latin American Society for Study of Liver, and Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, with support and input from global pathology societies and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. Both PSVD and noncirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPF) were considered acceptable terms based on the discussions. The clinical, radiologic, and pathologic criteria for diagnosis of PSVD were discussed and are currently being finalized. This session includes cases that illustrate diagnostic challenges and other clinically relevant aspects of hepatic vascular disorders with a focus on criteria and the appropriate use of the term PSVD.

Persons living with chronic liver disease are burdened by symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life, complications that result in frequent hospitalizations, and medications that require close monitoring and frequent titration. The holy grail of optimal hepatology care is a close patient-clinician relationship with easy access and efficient methods for medication adjustment and symptom monitoring. Digital tools, including virtual care, remote monitoring platforms, wearables, and now artificial intelligence (AI)–based technologies have the promise to bring this ideal vision closer to realization. At the same time, as we incorporate new technology into care delivery, we must consider the perspectives of key stakeholders to optimize workflows and mitigate any unintended consequences.

Presented as a partnership between the Clinical Informatics and Digital Health Special Interest Group and the Public Health/Health Care Delivery Special Interest Group, this program brings together patients and health care practitioners to share perspectives on the potential benefits, concerns, and important considerations on how to best incorporate digital tools and AI into clinical care. The session utilizes a case-based approach to explore the promise and pitfalls of using digital technology and AI in the following areas: clinical administrative tasks (eg, writing clinical notes, creating after-visit summaries); patient-facing tasks such as responding to patient portal messages; and promotion of patient education and health literacy. Each scenario begins with a brief vignette centered around one of the aforementioned areas; attendees will hear the perspectives of both patients and practitioners on the topic. The session concludes with a discussion with the speaker panel and audience questions and answers.

Electronic health record (EHR)–based, real-world data are increasingly used in clinical research for hepatology and liver transplantation. Analysis of these data have the potential to shape quality improvement, clinical trials, and regulatory decision-making. Large-scale, EHR–based datasets—such as Epic Cosmos, TriNetX, OMOP–based networks, All of Us, PCORnet, Mayo Clinic Platform Connect, Target RWE, AASLD’s Cirrhosis Quality Collaborative (CQC), and the Veterans Affairs' CIPHER, LEAP, and MVP—offer unprecedented opportunities to study liver disease at scale but differ substantially in structure, governance, analytic flexibility, and validity for specific research questions.

This community conversation—presented as a partnership between the Clinical Informatics and Digital Health Special Interest Group and the Clinical Research Committee—provides a practical framework for understanding EHR–based, real-world data, with an emphasis on applications in chronic liver disease and liver transplantation. Three focused presentations review the strengths and limitations of EHR–derived datasets, highlight Epic Cosmos as one of the largest available platforms, and explore Target RWE’s collaboration with AASLD through the CQC. The session concludes with an interactive panel discussion addressing methodological challenges, real-world use cases, and future directions for hepatology research and quality improvement.

Public policy advocacy is a powerful tool for improving liver health outcomes. Yet many health care practitioners and patients feel they lack the time, experience, or resources to engage effectively. This interactive community conversation brings together clinicians and patient representatives to explore practical strategies for influencing policy—even with limited bandwidth. Attendees learn how small actions can lead to big changes, discover ways to amplify their voices, and leave with actionable steps to advocate for liver health at local, state, and national levels.

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is considered the new stethoscope. Speakers highlight basic aspects of the use of liver POCUS in clinical hepatology. Faculty focus on practical aspects related to patient care and practice efficacy; benefits for patients and clinicians; barriers to implementation; and the optimal approach for those interested in considering incorporating liver POCUS into their clinincal practice. After the presentations, a live liver POCUS demonstration conducted by an expert on a preselected volunteer will be performed to expose attendees to how the procedure is performed and what information can be gained from it.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) remains a major challenge in the management of chronic liver disease, with significant implications for patient outcomes and quality of life. Faculty explore core topics: the phenotypic spectrum of HE; how infections, sarcopenia, and gut microbiome dynamics drive recurrence; and emerging pharmacological strategies beyond traditional therapies for HE.

Join faculty for this session designed for a broad audience, including transplant hepatologists, transplant surgeons, clinical hepatologists, residents, fellows, and students. Presenters highlight updates from the most noteworthy publications addressing liver transplantation in the setting of hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, and alcohol-associated liver disease, as well as recent surgical advances. Presentations are followed by an extended open discussion of these studies. Speakers emphasize up-to-date evidence and practical takeaways that can be directly applied to clinical practice.

Join this critical discussion of the most notable and influential basic and translational research papers published in the journal HEPATOLOGY in the past year by a team of associate editors from the journal. HEPATOLOGY associate editors appraise the most cutting-edge, game changing basic and translational research advances. A panel discussion with the speakers, editor-in-chief Gregory Gores, and associate editor Samar Ibrahim highlights the impact of selected papers on basic and translational advances in the field.