hepatology: A clinical textbook(2010 edition)

Book Description:

Preface
Hepatology is a rapidly evolving medical field and will continue to be very exciting
over the next few decades. The situation in viral hepatitis is similar to the HIV field
10-15 years ago when it started to become better understood and treatable. Today,
hepatitis B viral replication can be suppressed by potent antiviral drugs but there are
risks for the emergence of resistance. Strategies to enhance the eradication rates of
HBV infection still need to be developed. On the other hand, hepatitis C virus infection
can be eradicated by treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. However,
particularly in those infected by HCV genotype 1 the sustained virologic response
rates are still suboptimal. Many new antiviral drugs, especially protease and polymerase
inhibitors, are currently in preclinical and clinical development, and the first
data from larger clinical trials provide some optimism that the cure rates for patients
with chronic hepatitis C will be enhanced with these new agents. In other areas of
hepatology, e.g., for hereditary and metabol ic liver diseases, our knowledge is rapidly
increasing and new therapeutic options are on the horizon.
Are books in rapidly evolving areas such as hepatology the right medium to gather and
summarize the current knowledge? Are these books not likely to be outdated the very
day they are published? This is indeed a challenge that can be convincingly overcome
only by rapid internet-based publishing with regular updates. Another unmatched advantage
of a web-based book is the free and unrestricted access everywhere. Viral
hepatitis and other liver diseases are a global burden and timely information is important
for physicians, scientists, patients and health care officials all around the world.
The editors of this web-based book – Thomas Berg, Stefan Mauss, Jürgen Rockstroh,
Christoph Sarrazin and Heiner Wedemeyer – are young, bright, and already internationally
renowned hepatologists who have created an excellent state-of-the-art textbook
on clinical hepatology. The book is well-structured and written and provides indepth
information without being lengthy and redundant. I am convinced that all five
will remain very active in the field and will update this book regularly as the science
progresses. The book should rapidly become an international standard.

Foreword 2010
Because hepatology is such a dynamic and exciting area of medicine, regular updates
are mandatory in keeping a clinical textbook useful. We are delighted to present this
Second Edition of Hepatology - A Clinical Textbook. The First Edition was a major
success, with more than 80,000 downloads worldwide. In addition, a Romanian translation
was carried out by Camelia Sultana and Simona Ruta shortly after the appearance
of the first edition. We invite qualified people everywhere to do the same, into
any appropriate language! This web-based free-of-charge concept made possible by
unrestricted grants from Roche and Gilead has allowed the material to reach countries
usually not easily covered by print media, a special quality of this project. We hope
this Second Edition of Hepatology - A Clinical Textbook will continue to be a valuable
source of information for our readers.
The Editors
Thomas Berg, Stefan Mauss, Jürgen Rockstroh, Christoph Sarrazin, Heiner Wedemeyer

chapters (PDF)

   1. Hepatitis A - Epidemiology, transmission and natural history

   2. Hepatitis B - Epidemiology, transmission and natural history

   3. Hepatitis C - Epidemiology, transmission and natural history

   4. Hepatitis E - Epidemiology, transmission and natural history

   5. HBV Virology

   6. HCV Virology

   7. Prophylaxis and vaccination of viral hepatitis

   8. Acute and chronic hepatitis B - Diagnostic tests

   9. HBV Treatment - Standard of care

  10. HBV - Resistance and implications for therapeutic strategies

  11. Hepatitis D - Diagnostic procedures and therapy

  12. Acute and chronic hepatitis C - Diagnostic tests

  13. Standard of care

  14. New agents for treatment

  15. Management of adverse drug reactions

  16. Extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C

  17. Management of HBV/HIV coinfection

  18. Management of HCV/HIV coinfection

  19. Management of HBV/HCV coinfection

  20. Assessment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis

  21. Diagnosis, prognosis & therapy

  22. Management of patients before and after liver transplantation

  23. Liver transplantation in hepatitis B and C and HIV coinfection

  24. Metabolic Liver Diseases: Haemochromatosis

  25. Metabolic Liver Diseases: NAFLD & NASH

  26. Metabolic Liver Diseases: Wilson’s Disease

  27. Autoimmune hepatitis, PSC and PBC - Etiology, diagnosis, Natural History and Therapy

  28. Alcoholic hepatitis