This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 137 on "Liver Diseases: Advances in Treatment and Prevention" (part of the XII International Falk Liver Week 2003 in honour of Hans Popper’s 100th birthday, held on October 17-19, 2003). It covers our present knowledge of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of liver diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and delta hepatitis as well as alcoholic liver diseases, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and the hereditary liver diseases haemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. In addition to these clinical entities, the sequelae of liver cirrhosis and its complications, including the clinical management of ascites, the hepatorenal as well as the hepato- and porto-pulmonary hypertension syndrome are discussed. New developments with respect to liver support systems and liver transplantation are further highlights of the proceedings.The main topics mentioned above are complemented by state-of-the-art chapters on "Hepatocellular Carcinoma", "Emerging Hepatitis Viruses" and "Fulminant Liver Failure" that are of interest to both basic scientists as well as clinicians. A special section is devoted to "Liver Histology" as a tribute to Hans Popper who contributed eminently to the basic and clinical aspects of hepatology.All in all, Liver Diseases: Advances in Treatment and Prevention provides an exciting overview of the current developments in the treatment and prevention of viral, alcoholic, non-alcoholic and hereditary liver diseases, presented by an international faculty of outstanding scientists and clinicians.
