Laura C. Burlage, Sarah Bos, Jelle Adelmeijer, Takumi Sakai, Robert J. Porte, Ton Lisman – 1 August 2018 – Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART‐123) is an anticoagulant and anti‐inflammatory agent clinically used for treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Preclinical studies have shown that ART‐123 reduces hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. Although ART‐123 may therefore have clinical benefit in orthotopic liver transplantation, the substantial alterations in the hemostatic system may complicate its use in this setting.

Batool AbuHalimeh, Michael J. Krowka, Adriano R. Tonelli – 31 July 2018 – Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that can develop as a complication of portal hypertension. Treatment of PoPH includes PAH‐specific therapies, and in certain cases, such therapies are necessary to facilitate a successful liver transplantation. A significant number of barriers may limit the adequate treatment of patients with PoPH and explain the poorer survival of these patients when compared to patients with other types of PAH.

Virginia Hernández‐Gea, Anna Baiges, Fanny Turon, Juan Carlos Garcia‐Pagán – 31 July 2018 – Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is a rare disorder characterized by clinical portal hypertension in the absence of a recognizable cause such as cirrhosis. Laboratory tests often reveal a preserved liver function with anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia due to splenomegaly. Imaging studies reveal signs of portal hypertension, whereas liver stiffness and portal pressure values are usually normal or slightly elevated.

Guadalupe Garcia‐Tsao, Michael Fuchs, Mitchell Shiffman, Brian B. Borg, Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, Kirti Shetty, Juan F. Gallegos‐Orozco, K. Rajender Reddy, Eyob Feyssa, Jean L. Chan, Mason Yamashita, James M. Robinson, Alfred P. Spada, David T. Hagerty, Jaime Bosch – 31 July 2018 – Caspases play a central role in apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. They produce hemodynamically active, proinflammatory microparticles that cause intrahepatic inflammation, vasoconstriction, and extrahepatic splanchnic vasodilation.

Pengfei Pang, Xiaojun Hu, Bin Zhou, Junjie Mao, Yu Liang, Zaibo Jiang, Mingsheng Huang, Ruihong Liu, Youyong Zhang, Jiesheng Qian, Jinsong Liu, Jinxin Xu, Yaqin Zhang, Maoheng Zu, Yiming Wang, Huanhuan He, Hong Shan – 31 July 2018 – Vascular malformations present diagnostic and treatment challenges. In particular, malformations of vessels to the viscera are often diagnosed late or incorrectly due to the insidious onset and deep location of the disease. Therefore, a better knowledge of the genetic mutations underlying such diseases is needed.

Suz Warner, Patrick J. McKiernan, Jane Hartley, Evelyn Ong, Indra D. Mourik, Girish Gupte, Mona Abdel‐Hady, Paolo Muiesan, Thamera Perera, Darius Mirza, Khalid Sharif, Deirdre A. Kelly, Susan V. Beath – 31 July 2018 – Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in stable patients with cirrhosis can easily be overlooked. We report on the presenting symptoms, disease progression, and outcomes after liver transplantation (LT) in children with HPS. Twenty patients were diagnosed with HPS between 1996 and 2016.

Batool AbuHalimeh, Michael J. Krowka, Adriano R. Tonelli – 31 July 2018 – Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that can develop as a complication of portal hypertension. Treatment of PoPH includes PAH‐specific therapies, and in certain cases, such therapies are necessary to facilitate a successful liver transplantation. A significant number of barriers may limit the adequate treatment of patients with PoPH and explain the poorer survival of these patients when compared to patients with other types of PAH.

Kathleen M. Loomes, Cathie Spino, Nathan P. Goodrich, Thomas N. Hangartner, Amanda E. Marker, James E. Heubi, Binita M. Kamath, Benjamin L. Shneider, Philip Rosenthal, Paula M. Hertel, Saul J. Karpen, Jean P. Molleston, Karen F. Murray, Kathleen B. Schwarz, Robert H. Squires, Jeffrey Teckman, Yumirle P. Turmelle, Estella M. Alonso, Averell H. Sherker, John C. Magee, Ronald J. Sokol, the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network – 31 July 2018 – Osteopenia and bone fractures are significant causes of morbidity in children with cholestatic liver disease.

Ping Ye, Mei Xiang, Hua Liao, Jijun Liu, Hongbo Luo, Yayun Wang, Ling Huang, Manhua Chen, Jiahong Xia – 31 July 2018 – Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases. Until now, no medications for NAFLD have been approved by relevant governmental agencies. Dual‐specificity phosphatase 9 (Dusp9) is a member of the DUSP protein family. Dusp9 is expressed in insulin‐sensitive tissues, and its expression may be modified with the development of insulin resistance (IR).

Virginia Hernández‐Gea, Anna Baiges, Fanny Turon, Juan Carlos Garcia‐Pagán – 31 July 2018 – Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is a rare disorder characterized by clinical portal hypertension in the absence of a recognizable cause such as cirrhosis. Laboratory tests often reveal a preserved liver function with anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia due to splenomegaly. Imaging studies reveal signs of portal hypertension, whereas liver stiffness and portal pressure values are usually normal or slightly elevated.