Webcast description
As part of EASL’s continuing series on COVID-19 and the liver, Professor Agustin Albillos, Dr Gwilym Webb and Dr Massimo Iavarone come together for a three-part discussion on COVID-19, cirrhosis, liver cancer and transplantation.
Moderator: Prof. Agustin Albillos
Panel:
• Dr Massimo Iavarone
• Dr Gwilym Webb
Learning objectives
- Understand the impact of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in patients with COVID-19 infection, the outcomes and how to manage the care for these patients
- Learn more about the challenges encountered for liver cancer surveillance and management during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Understand how COVID-19 has affected liver transplantation and what are the risks for liver transplant recipients
Target audience
- Hepatologists
- General practitioners
- Health care professionals
- Clinical researchers and scientists
Part 1 - Cirrhosis
Part 1 focuses on how COVID-19 impacts people with liver cirrhosis. Dr Webb begins by presenting published data on the outcomes for patients with chronic liver disease or autoimmune hepatitis who contract COVID-19. The faculty then discuss a range of questions arising from the data, such as: are patients with compensated cirrhosis at increased risk of mortality from COVID-19; can the virus trigger acute decompensation; how do decompensated cirrhosis and respiratory failure contribute to mortality in these patients; how will patients with liver disease be cared for in the current wave; and what is the effect of immunosuppression on prognosis?
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Part 2 - Liver transplantation
Part 2 addresses how COVID-19 has impacted liver transplantation. Dr Iavarone opens the webcast by presenting international data on organ transplantation trends and morbidity/mortality outcomes in liver transplant patients with COVID-19 compared with the general population. The faculty then discuss a range of questions, such as: how does cirrhosis-related immune dysfunction affect disease outcomes; how should COVID-19 affected patients with cirrhosis be prioritised; how should immunosuppression be managed in patients with cirrhosis and COVID-19; and how can healthcare systems change to ensure that transplants can continue during the pandemic?
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Part 3 - Liver cancer
Part 3 looks at how COVID-19 has impacted detection and management for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients. Dr Iavarone begins by presenting international data on how the pandemic has affected both surveillance and treatment for HCC. The faculty then discuss a range of questions arising from the data, such as: what factors contribute to patient willingness to continue with surveillance; what is the role of nurses in this process; and how will the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors change during the pandemic?
If you wish to obtain a certificate of completion for this webcast, please click here.