Juan Yang, Jianming Ye, Tengfei Ma, Fangfang Tang, Li Huang, Zhen Liu, Song Tian, Xu Cheng, Li Zhang, Zhenli Guo, Fuping Tu, Miao He, Xueming Xu, Xiaojuan Lu, Yanyang Wu, Xiaoli Zeng, Jiahua Zou, Xiangcai Wang, Weijie Peng, Peng Zhang – 11 November 2021

Eun Ran Kim, Jeong Su Park, Jin Hee Kim, Ji Young Oh, In Jeong Oh, Da Hyun Choi, Yu seol Lee, I. Seul Park, SeungWon Kim, Da Hyun Lee, Jae Hee Cheon, Jin‐Woo Bae, Minyoung Lee, Jin Won Cho, In Bok An, Eun Joo Nam, Sang‐In Yang, Myung‐Shik Lee, Soo Han Bae, Yong‐ho Lee – 11 November 2021

Complex multi-directional interactions occur between the gut microbiota and the liver. A disturbance of this delicate homeostasis can contribute to liver disease. Effects of untargeted microbiota therapies including antibiotics, probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, have been assessed in clinical trials.  Precision and targeted modifications such as engineered bacteria, postbiotics and phages, can precisely edit the microbiota and modify liver disease progression.

This program combines didactic lectures and lively debate to examine controversies in the screening and prevention of clinically significant portal hypertension. Talks cover groundbreaking advances in basic, translational, outcomes, and clinical research in portal hypertension that may be incorporated into clinical practice, along with new pharmacologic interventions to prevent disease progression in these patients.

What are the most challenging scenarios faced by clinical hepatologists today? At this symposium, learners will explore the diagnosis and management of hepatic adenomas, bariatric surgery and liver transplantation, cannabis and coffee in liver disease, pre-liver transplant cardiac evaluation, and the management of pruritus in liver patients. Faculty will present the latest evidence-based management strategies and stimulate discussion.

In an engaging case report format, experts review multidisciplinary care of a patient with cirrhosis, including perspectives of a dietitian, mental health provider, physical therapist, transplant surgeon, pharmacist and hepatologist. The session includes recommendations for care of patients with end-stage liver disease and setting appropriate treatment goals.

What have we learned about managing liver disease patients in the COVID-19 era? This session will review timely topics, including COVID vaccination safety and efficacy in patients with liver transplant and chronic liver disease, long-term outcomes of COVID disease in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and how hepatology practice is adapting to new data and patient care challenges.

AASLD President, Raymond Chung, will officially kick off The Liver Meeting® with opening remarks. Immediately following will be the President's Choice Lecture, featuring Dr. John D. Halamka, President of the Mayo Clinic Platform. Dr. Halamka will discuss emerging uses of novel data, AI, and devices that empower AASLD and their stakeholders.

Consider strategies to evaluate disparities in access to and outcomes of liver transplantation based on gender, patient age, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status at this stimulating seminar from the Liver Transplant and Surgery SIG. Learn how to evaluate the latest interventions to minimize care disparities and promote better long-term outcomes in transplant patients.

Explore timely topics in liver disease in a lively debate format as hepatology trainees and practicing hepatologists tackle important, often controversial issues. Debaters will gain skills in critical thinking, balanced argumentation and factual examination of each issues' pros and cons. Debaters, judges and audience members will grapple with opposing scientific, societal, individual and financial viewpoints on current clinical concerns.