Program
AASLD Highlights
Hepatology Highlights: The Year in Review
Moderators: John R. Lake, MD and Michael H. Nathanson, MD, PhD
Saturday, May 18, 2–5 p.m.
| Registration Type | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| AASLD Member | $205 |
| Nonmember | $275 |
The purpose of the program is to review highlights of the published literature during the past year in five specific areas: viral hepatitis, liver cancer, fatty liver disease, immunosuppression and immune tolerance in liver transplant, and live donor transplantation. A mix of clinical and basic advances will be discussed. The program is distinctive in that it will focus on new and recent advances.
Preliminary Schedule
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 2 p.m. | Welcome and Introduction |
| 2:05 p.m. | Liver Cancer |
| 2:35 p.m. | Viral Hepatitis |
| 3:05 p.m. | NAFLD |
| 3:35 p.m. | Break |
| 3:55 p.m. | Management of Viral Hepatitis in Liver Transplant Recipients |
| 4:25 p.m. | Organ Allocation Policy: What is Next? |
| 4:55 p.m. | Wrap-up |
Learning Objectives
- Understand the most recent advances in treatment of HCV and HCC.
- Understand the newest concepts and approaches in liver transplant, including updates on immunosuppression and live donor transplants.
- Understand the most recent advances in the pathogenesis, risk factors and clinical outcomes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Plenary Sessions
Sunday, May 20, 8–9:30 a.m.
Monday, May 21, 8–9:30 a.m.
The best abstracts in basic and clinical hepatology will be presented at these highly focused sessions.
Clinical Symposia
Liver Manifestations of Systemic Diseases in Children
(co-sponsored with NASPGHAN)
Sunday, May 20, 8–9:30 a.m.
The liver complications of the systemic diseases highlighted in this program (IBD, PNALD) may be initially subtle, however, they are progressive and challenging to manage. A concise review of the pathophysiology and current treatment options for the associated liver diseases is essential in order to provide evidence-based medicine in the treatment of disease.
Autoimmune Liver Disease
Sunday, May 19, 4–5:30 p.m.
This symposium will expose the audience to evolving treatment strategies in autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary sclerosis, and will provide an update on the current status of experimental therapies for primary sclerosing cholangitis along with cancer surveillance strategies for this disease. Up-to-date information will be provided on classification of overlap syndromes among the autoimmune disorders and their appropriate management.
Detection and Management of NAFLD
Monday, May 20, 10–11:30 a.m.
Approximately one in every three Americans has nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is not possible to subject all these individuals to a liver biopsy to diagnose nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is the progressive form of NAFLD that may progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, clinicians would like to be advised regarding which patients should undergo a liver biopsy. Furthermore, once patients are diagnosed with NASH, how should they be treated? Finally, clinicians would like to know if there are baseline and on-treatment factors that can predict response to therapies in NASH. This program will answer these clinical questions.
Prevention and Management of Hepatorenal Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients
Monday, May 20, 2–3:30 p.m.
Renal dysfunction is a common complication of liver cirrhosis, estimated to occur in approximately 20 percent of patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites admitted to hospital. Renal dysfunction is frequently precipitated by volume change or by an episode of bacterial infection. Often, the renal function becomes acutely abnormal, but returns to baseline levels once the precipitating event is treated. However, some of these acute insults may progress, ultimately leading to renal failure. Hepatorenal syndrome is a very specific form of renal failure in cirrhosis, associated with poor prognosis. There is increasing data to suggest that the development of acute kidney injury in cirrhosis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, even before patients reach the stage of established hepatorenal syndrome. Therefore, significant efforts have been made in recent years to better our understanding of the pathophysiology and to update the various definitions and diagnostic criteria. This symposium will cover some of these new findings and discuss treatment options and preventive strategies.
Viral Hepatitis in Liver Transplantation: Pre- and Post-Transplant Management
Monday, May 20, 4–5:30 p.m.
This symposium will update providers on the newest options for prevention and treatment of recurrent hepatitis and will review the latest results from studies using pre-liver transplant antiviral therapy.
Detection and Management of Hepatopulmonary Syndromes
Tuesday, May 21, 8–9:30 a.m.
Pulmonary vascular complications/consequences of liver disease comprise the major hepatopulmonary syndromes to be covered in this clinical symposium. Specifically, updates regarding screening, pathophysiology and medical management of the hepatopulmonary syndrome (pulmonary vascular dilatations causing hypoxemia) and portopulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular obstruction leading to right heart failure) will be stressed. These syndromes correlate poorly with severity of liver disease and may cause significant morbidity and mortality if not recognized and managed appropriately. Implications for patients in need of liver transplantation will be addressed in terms of recent published outcomes, as well as contraindications and priority for liver transplant.
Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Tuesday, May 21, 10–11:30 a.m.
The emphasis in this session will be to provide clinical knowledge about the management of a hepatocellular carcinoma found on a screening exam.
State-of-the-Art Lectures
HCV in the Era of Direct-Acting Antivirals: The Year in Review
Speaker: Andrew Muir, MD
Sunday, May 19, 10–11 a.m.
Learning Objectives:
- Update clinicians on the latest efficacy data in the treatment of HCV patients with direct-acting antivirals.
- Update clinicians on the adverse event experience of direct-acting antiviral regimens beyond clinical trials in clinical practice.
Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Liver Disease
Speaker: Ramon Bataller, MD
Sunday, May 19, 4–5 p.m.
Learning Objectives:
- Provide the audience updated information on the natural history, pathogenesis and treatment of alcoholic liver disease.
- Summarize the evaluation, management and complications of liver transplantation for patients with alcoholic liver disease.
- Discuss the epidemiological, ethical and medical aspects of liver transplantation for patients with alcoholic liver disease.
NAFLD and Cardiac Risk
Speaker: Mary E. Rinella, MD
Monday, May 20, 2–3 p.m.
Learning Objectives:
- Review the evidence behind the association between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease.
- Identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with NAFLD.
- Understand the importance of identification and treatment of the metabolic syndrome in patients with NAFLD.
Management of HCV and HIV Co-Infection
Speaker: Raymond T. Chung, MD
Monday, May 20, 4–5 p.m.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the natural history of HCV-HIV co-infection.
- Describe the treatment options for HCV in HIV co-infection.
- Understand important drug interactions between HCV and HIV antiviral therapy.
Controversies in Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Speaker: Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH
Tuesday, May 21, 8–9 a.m.
Learning Objectives:
- Review evidence for efficacy of HCC screening.
- Review recent guidelines for HCC screening.
- Discuss areas of controversy in method, frequency and implementation of HCC screening.
Other AASLD Programming
Research/Topic Fora, held Sunday, May 19–Tuesday, May 21, will present opportunities for presentation of original research and exchange of ideas and data. Topics include Autoimmune/Cholestatic Liver Disease, Cell and Molecular Biology, Hepatitis B and C, Liver Transplantation, NASH/ASH and Viral Hepatitis.
AASLD General Learning Objectives
The AASLD’s General Goals and Objectives are to:
- Provide a forum for the exchange of new scientific and clinical information relevant to the study of liver disease.
- Create an arena for the interchange of opinions regarding the care and management of all types of liver diseases.
- Assess new diagnostic or therapeutic techniques related to liver disease.