Chronic liver diseases represent a major burden for the lives of patients and health care systems worldwide. In the stage of advanced chronic liver disease most patients eventually develop portal hypertension (PHT), which is a main driver of subsequent complications such as formation of varices, ascites, renal dysfunction, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperdynamic circulation and cardiomyopathy. The most severe form is the acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) responsible for the majority of deaths in decompensated stages of cirrhosis. The current international guidelines recommend mostly medical treatment for the prevention of variceal bleeding by non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB) and/or endoscopic treatment. However, up to 60% of patients fail to achieve significant reduction in the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Moreover, NSBBs are suggested to aggravate renal dysfunction (a severe complication of cirrhosis) in certain situations. For ACLF no specific treatment options are established. This is due to a lack of full understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for potential authors to highlight recent advances in Portal Hypertension and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure research utilizing basic laboratory techniques and/or clinical research. We therefore invite authors to contribute with highly innovative original papers or critical reviews in this field of liver cirrhosis.
Moreover, introduction of novel therapies and management strategies for decompensated cirrhosis have been limited for the past 20 years, we encourage researchers and clinicians in the area of hepatology to contribute their newest research on novel aspects of PHT and ACLF, and on new therapeutic strategies that have the potential to modify the disease and improve outcome.
Chronic liver diseases represent a major burden for the lives of patients and health care systems worldwide. In the stage of advanced chronic liver disease most patients eventually develop portal hypertension (PHT), which is a main driver of subsequent complications such as formation of varices, ascites, renal dysfunction, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperdynamic circulation and cardiomyopathy. The most severe form is the acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) responsible for the majority of deaths in decompensated stages of cirrhosis. The current international guidelines recommend mostly medical treatment for the prevention of variceal bleeding by non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB) and/or endoscopic treatment. However, up to 60% of patients fail to achieve significant reduction in the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Moreover, NSBBs are suggested to aggravate renal dysfunction (a severe complication of cirrhosis) in certain situations. For ACLF no specific treatment options are established. This is due to a lack of full understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for potential authors to highlight recent advances in Portal Hypertension and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure research utilizing basic laboratory techniques and/or clinical research. We therefore invite authors to contribute with highly innovative original papers or critical reviews in this field of liver cirrhosis.
Moreover, introduction of novel therapies and management strategies for decompensated cirrhosis have been limited for the past 20 years, we encourage researchers and clinicians in the area of hepatology to contribute their newest research on novel aspects of PHT and ACLF, and on new therapeutic strategies that have the potential to modify the disease and improve outcome.