Hepatology

Eleventh Edition 2024–2025 The eleventh edition of Hepatology – A clinical textbook offers an update of all relevant areas and is a source of information for physicians, residents and advanced medical students seeking a broader understanding of liver disease.

Foreword Liver diseases remain dramatically underestimated worldwide. At some point in life, almost everyone will experience elevated liver enzymes, and millions of people are affected by abnormalities in ALT or AST levels. More than 100 million individuals globally are living with liver cirrhosis, highlighting the enormous burden of liver diseases on healthcare systems. Despite these staggering numbers, awareness of liver diseases remains low, and many patients are diagnosed only at advanced stages when therapeutic options are limited. In recent years, hepatology has undergone profound transformations, with rapid progress in both therapeutic and diagnostic advancements. The introduction of novel antiviral therapies for hepatitis B, C and D, targeted treatments for liver and bile-duct cancer, and innovations in metabolic and autoimmune liver diseases has reshaped the field. Furthermore, personalized medicine and non-invasive diagnostic tools have revolutionized clinical practice, enabling earlier and more precise disease detection and management. These developments emphasize the need for up-to-date, comprehensive educational resources to support clinicians in making informed decisions for their patients. Against this backdrop, we are pleased to continue the success of the Hepatology – A clinical textbook, now in its 11th edition (2024–2025). This latest volume once again provides a complete overview of the most recent developments across the entire spectrum of hepatology, covering viral hepatitis, steatotic liver disease (SLD), rare liver diseases, cirrhosis-related complications, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The continuous evolution of the textbook reflects the dynamic nature of the field and ensures that it remains a reliable and relevant reference for clinicians, researchers, and students. This edition is the result of a collaborative effort by numerous internationally renowned experts from leading hepatology centers in Germany and beyond. Their expertise and dedication have made it possible to update existing chapters and contribute entirely new sections, ensuring that this textbook remains an essential resource for those dedicated to the care of patients with liver diseases. We extend our deepest gratitude to all contributors for their commitment to this project. We hope that this new edition will serve as a trusted guide in clinical hepatology and contribute to improving patient care worldwide.

The Editors Heiner Wedemeyer, Stefan Mauss, Thomas Berg, Verena Keitel, Jürgen Rockstroh, Christoph Sarrazin