Medscape Conference Coverage, based on selected sessions at:

The Liver Meeting 2007: 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)

November 02 - 06, 2007; Boston, Massachusetts

This activity is not sanctioned by, nor a part of, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Topic Overviews

Physicians - maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™
- Update on Chronic Hepatitis B
  Kris V. Kowdley, MD, FACP
- Hepatitis C: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
  Tram T. Tran, MD
Physicians - maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™
- Complications of Cirrhosis -- Clinical Insights and Implications for Practice
  Steven K. Herrine, MD
- HCC -- Current Concepts and Considerations
  Alex S. Befeler, MD
Physicians - maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™
- Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury
  Willis C. Maddrey, MD
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease -- New Insight Into Old Questions
  William F. Balistreri, MD

Expert Interviews

Autoimmune Hepatitis: An Expert Interview With Steven L. Flamm, MD

Steven L. Flamm, MD, discusses the latest information regarding this autoimmune liver disease, as framed by data presented at AASLD 2007.
Hepatitis B: An Expert Interview With Emmet B. Keeffe, MD, MACP

Chronic HBV infection remains one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease. Emmet Keeffe, MD, MACP, talks about ongoing issues in management, as framed by data presented at AASLD 2007.

Daily Session Coverage

Evolving Issues in Viral Hepatitis

Nancy Reau, MD, assesses the latest information regarding the management and clinical evaluation of patients with chronic hepatitis C and B, as based on data presented at AASLD 2007.
New Directions in Pediatric Liver Disease

What's the latest thinking regarding treatment of the pediatric patient with liver disease? William Balistreri, MD, explores the issues, based on selected sessions at AASLD 2007.
Gene Expression and Proteomics Technologies Used in Liver Disease

Zobair M. Younossi, MD, explores the latest in translational research in the setting of liver disease, as based on data presented at AASLD 2007.

Conference News

NAFLD Is a Risk Factor for Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome CME

Individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and increased serum alanine transferase levels along with other risk factors are at increased risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Medscape Medical News, November 15, 2007
Telaprevir Continues to Prove Its Potency Against HCV

When used with pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin, the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor telaprevir could shorten treatment duration, according to findings from the PROVE 2 trial. Medscape Medical News, November 13, 2007
Tenofovir Significantly More Effective Than Adefovir Against HBV CME

Tenofovir, a drug intended to treat HIV infection, is better than adefovir, a drug intended to treat hepatitis B virus infection. Medscape Medical News, November 12, 2007
NAC Slows Early-Stage Non-Acetaminophen-Related Liver Failure

If given early, intravenous N-acetylcysteine, used to treat acetaminophen poisoning, is helpful for acute liver failure resulting from hepatitis B and drug-induced injury, among other causes. Medscape Medical News, November 12, 2007
Entecavir Shows High HBV Suppression, Low Resistance in Long-Term Studies CME

A 4-year follow-up by the drug's maker finds entecavir effective, even for patients who did not respond after 1 year. Medscape Medical News, November 9, 2007
Tenofovir Works for Experienced HBV-Infected Patients CME

Those patients with hepatitis B virus infection who were previously treated with other drugs still respond well to tenofovir, commonly used to treat HIV infection. Medscape Medical News, November 8, 2007
HALT-C Trial Gets Negative Results CME

Maintenance therapy with peginterferon failed to halt liver disease progression in patients infected with hepatitis C virus. Medscape Medical News, November 7, 2007
Tumor Down-Staging for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Has Good Results

After their tumors were down-staged to enable liver transplantation, 92 patients with HCC were alive at 4 years. Medscape Medical News, November 7, 2007
Donor Risk Must Be Factored Into Transplant Decisions CME

The increased use of expanded criteria donor livers raises the issue of who should receive them. Medscape Medical News, November 6, 2007
Imaging May Help Diagnose Hepatic Encephalopathy

Researchers in Japan find that near-infrared spectroscopy, which measures brain function, might help identify mild or asymptomatic cases of hepatic encephalopathy. Medscape Medical News, November 5, 2007

Disclaimer

The materials presented here do not reflect the views of Medscape or the companies providing unrestricted educational grants. These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. All readers or continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The materials presented here were prepared by independent authors under the editorial supervision of Medscape and do not represent a publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. These materials and the related activity are not sanctioned by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases or the commercial supporter of the conference and do not constitute an official part of that conference.