Aynur Unalp‐Arida, Constance E. Ruhl – 9 November 2019

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.

This timely program tackles the eternal question of how to best screen for liver disease in the general population. Speakers will take a global perspective to describe novel methods of screening, discuss high-risk patient populations and address issues of cost effectiveness and linkage to care.

Experts review recent progress in liver fibrosis research at this session, focusing on new discoveries of the molecular mechanisms and translational aspects of fibrosis and cirrhosis, including translation of findings into humans; the potential role of non-parenchymal cells; new transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of key contributors of fibrosis; mechanisms that may lead to novel therapies; and an update on antifibrotics.

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.

This two-hour symposium explores chronic hepatitis B management in diverse populations. Topics include the changing global epidemiology and comorbidity of chronic hepatitis B, how to apply current practice guidelines in “gray” zones, HCC prevention strategies beyond the guidelines, emerging curative therapies and current strategies in HCC surveillance for hepatitis B, especially in younger, noncirrhotic persons from endemic areas.

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.

Clinicians and translational researchers will glean approaches to assess drug induced liver injury (DILI) risk and predict outcomes at this session. Faculty will review basic hepatic drug metabolism in healthy and diseased livers, strategies to detect DILI during drug treatment and possible DILI risk factors, such as dose, duration, genetics and immunity. They will also share useful databases for clinicians.

At this symposium, experts share the latest advances in the research of the microbiome and its relationship with NAFLD. They will discuss the microbiome’s association with disease progression, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Topics covered will include the “cross talk” between obesity, the microbiome and NAFLD in both animal models and humans.

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.