View all Takeaways

As part of the International Liver Congress (ILC) 2021, the EASL Takeaways take a look at key topics from the congress, with leading experts discussing the most impactful science and putting it into perspective. This session on metabolism, alcohol and toxicity, with a focus on NAFLD, is presented by Professors Massimo Pinzani, Manuela Merli and Luca Valenti.

Professor Pinzani began proceedings by going over two abstracts from ILC 2021 – the first comparing the effects of a low-carb, high-fat diet and a 5:2 diet with standard dietary advice in NAFLD patients, and the second evaluating the relationship between HVPG and portal hypertension-related decompensation. Led by Professor Merli, the newly updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on non-invasive techniques presented at the ILC provided a framework of discussion on several abstracts looking at diagnostic predictors and non-invasive assessments in NAFLD patients. Finally, Professor Valenti explores the roles of genetic variation on liver disease progression, and the use of genetic biomarkers as targets for new therapeutic approaches.

 

Biographies

Massimo Pinzani Massimo Pinzani is currently Professor of Medicine, clinical hepatologist, Director of the UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health and the Sheila Sherlock Chair of Hepatology at University College London, United Kingdom. Most of his clinical and research activity is based at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Professor Pinzani has been Professor of Internal Medicine (2000-2010) and of Gastroenterology (2010-2012) at the University of Florence, in Italy. He received research and clinical training at the University of California Los Angeles (1984-1987) and at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA (1988-1991). Professor Pinzani holds a PhD degree in Liver Pathophysiology. He has been awarded fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) and from the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (FAASLD). He is currently adjunct Professor of Hepatology in the Division of Gastroenterology of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and Visiting Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hepatology Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
Manuela Merli Manuela Merli is an Associated Professor in the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Her research spans the field of liver cirrhosis and transplantation, with a particular focus on nutrition, metabolism, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy and bacterial infections. A member of EASL, and an honorary member of the European Society of Parenteral and Enternal Nutrition, she is currently aiding both societies in the creation of guidelines for nutrition in liver diseases. Prof. Merli has contributed to over 240 peer-reviewed papers and 38 book chapters in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.
Luca Valenti Luca Valenti is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation at the Universita Degli Studi Di Milano in Italy. His main research interests are metabolic and genetic liver diseases, with a special focus on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and iron metabolism disorders. He is a member of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Scientific committee and Editor-in-chief of Liver International.
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