The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, including patients with liver disease, and the pre- and post-transplant population. At this program, experts discuss the effect of the virus on the liver and treatment options, as well as COVID-19's impact on organ donation and pre-, and post- liver transplant patients in highly affected areas in the United States and Europe. Keep the conversation going! Join us in one of 3 Breakout Sessions immediately following the Transplant Surgery Workshop. Go to the Session Listing within the TLMdX Platform and select Breakout Sessions 1 - 3.

What support and knowledge do clinical practitioners caring for liver patients need in the healthcare system of 2020? This overview session provides a general update on hepatology for practitioners in all clinical environments. Speakers will provide updated information on selected liver disorders that are prevalent, complex and have a significant impact on routine medical practice today.

This lecture will highlight liver disease research advances supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, as part of its 70th year shared anniversary with AASLD. Dr. Rodgers will share current research challenges and opportunities, including the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to address health disparities and include underrepresented populations in the scientific workforce, and the Institute's strategic plan.

What are the latest developments in managing patients with liver disease and cirrhosis? Join this engaging discussion by international experts, who will address management of portal vein thrombosis, interpretation of abnormal iron studies, managing acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with liver disease, best practices for hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma screening, and both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

The COVID-19 patient engagement subcommittee presents patient-centered updates on the current knowledge, practice and recommendations in the care of chronic liver disease in the COVID-19 era at this timely session. Presentations include current data on COVID-19 and the liver, patient-driven case studies, and case discussions of liver disease patients who have recovered from COVID-19.

This program closely examines key components of patient-centered care, including integration of patient-reported outcomes within routine care, care coordination and palliative care integration, telehealth, and emerging models for screening and linkage to care. Speakers will discuss how these care models inform providers in hepatology and how value-based approaches can further consolidate recent arguments to improve chronic liver disease care.

This two-session program explores non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in both children and adults. The first session covers the definition/nomenclature and diagnostic strategies for non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. The second session explores monitoring and management of children and adults with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, including medical, interventional radiology and surgical challenges. Each session includes case presentations to highlight controversies, expert panel interviews and Q&A.

This symposium will focus on clinical management of NAFLD/NASH in 2020, at a time when the first NASH therapy is likely to be approved soon. Talks will explore whom to treat, how to identify these patients, current treatment options and the future of NASH diagnostics and therapy. The session includes a debate: Do we target NASH resolution or fibrosis improvement?

Cellular senescence is a cell cycle arrest program often accompanied by secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial dysfunction. Senescent cells contribute to age-related tissue degradation and may be involved in the pathogenesis of HCC, fibrosis and cholangiopathies. This symposium will explore how experts are working to translate basic science discoveries into emerging therapeutic strategies for several liver diseases.

Currently, there is groundbreaking research on HBV cure efforts, therapeutic developments for HDV, virologic biomarkers to help individualize antiviral "stopping" strategies in selected populations, and our understanding of concurrent NAFLD and chronic HBV infection. This two-hour symposium reviews emerging data on a potential HBV cure and HDV treatments, novel virologic biomarkers, and the epidemiology and natural history of concurrent HBV/NALFD.