In this educational podcast, Paul Kwo, MD discusses how the goals of hepatitis B treatment are changing and what the future may look like for people living with chronic hepatitis B. While current medications do an excellent job of controlling the virus, most patients still need to stay on treatment long term. Dr. Kwo explains the growing focus on achieving a “functional cure,” which means losing the hepatitis B surface antigen—a key milestone that may allow some patients to eventually stop treatment and further reduce their risk of serious liver complications. Throughout the presentation, Dr. Kwo reviews the benefits of today's hepatitis B therapies, including their ability to keep the virus under control and lower the risk of liver damage. He also discusses why achieving a functional cure is important, not only for reducing the risk of liver cancer but also for improving quality of life and helping patients feel less burdened by their disease. The video also explores new treatment approaches being studied, how healthcare providers monitor patients over time, and what factors may help identify people who could benefit from future therapies. As hepatitis B research continues to advance, Dr. Kwo shares his perspective on how these developments may bring patients closer than ever to achieving long-term disease control and, potentially, a functional cure.

Dr. Anthony Martinez, Medical Director of Hepatology at the University at Buffalo and Erie County Medical Center, discusses the evolving landscape of chronic hepatitis B management and the shift from viral suppression to precision immune control. In this expert overview, he highlights the latest 2025 AASLD and EASL guideline updates and explains how quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) testing is changing treatment decisions, particularly for hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients. This discussion explores when clinicians may consider stopping nucleos(t)ide analog therapy, the importance of the ≤100 IU/mL qHBsAg threshold, and why treatment discontinuation should never be considered in patients with cirrhosis or unreliable follow-up. Dr. Martinez also reviews how qHBsAg trends can help personalize monitoring, HCC surveillance, and treatment timing while supporting the pursuit of functional cure. Using a real-world clinical scenario, he examines emerging strategies aimed at antigen reduction, including PEG interferon add-on therapy and novel functional cure approaches. This video is ideal for hepatologists, gastroenterologists, and advanced practice providers looking to stay current on modern hepatitis B management, functional cure strategies, and the growing role of immune-informed decision-making.

In this expert discussion presented in collaboration with the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation, Amanda Cheung, MD, transplant hepatologist at Northwestern Medicine, and Peter Hedera, MD, neurologist and medical geneticist at University of Louisville, explore the complex challenges of medication adherence and long-term compliance in patients with Wilson disease. This educational conversation reviews the lifelong management of Wilson disease, highlighting how both neurologic and hepatic manifestations can significantly impact quality of life, daily functioning, and long-term outcomes. The discussion examines common neurologic symptoms including tremor, dystonia, ataxia, and parkinsonism, as well as hepatic complications ranging from asymptomatic liver enzyme elevations to cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Experts also discuss how Wilson disease can mimic other conditions such as fatty liver disease, contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Throughout the discussion, the faculty address the real-world barriers that affect adherence to Wilson disease therapies, including lifelong treatment burden, complex dosing schedules, food restrictions, medication side effects, cost and insurance challenges, and the transition from pediatric to adult care. The conversation also reviews currently available chelation therapies such as penicillamine and trientine, the role of zinc maintenance therapy, and emerging treatment strategies aimed at improving convenience and patient compliance. Additional insights include the importance of multidisciplinary care teams, patient education, shared decision-making, pharmacy support programs, psychiatric care, and social work involvement in optimizing long-term disease management. This video provides valuable clinical pearls for hepatologists, neurologists, advanced practice providers, and healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with Wilson disease.

In this informative CLDF podcast, Sammy Saab provides a clear, big-picture overview of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, breaking down how clinicians approach this complex condition in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. Rather than focusing on technical details, this discussion highlights the key ways cirrhosis impacts the body and why early recognition, ongoing monitoring, and coordinated care are so important for improving patient outcomes. The episode emphasizes how cirrhosis is best understood in stages—from earlier phases where lifestyle changes and preventive care can make a meaningful difference, to more advanced stages that require closer management and support. A major theme throughout the conversation is the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, with hepatologists working alongside nutritionists, radiologists, transplant teams, and other specialists to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care. Listeners will also gain insight into how modern hepatology is evolving, including the growing role of imaging, nutrition, and collaboration across specialties. This high-level overview is ideal for healthcare professionals looking to better understand the broader strategy behind managing cirrhosis and portal hypertension, while staying aligned with current trends in liver disease care and improving long-term patient outcomes.

In this insightful CLDF podcast recorded at the 6th Annual Liver Connect Conference, John Vierling, MD, shares a forward-looking overview of Wilson’s disease and the major shifts shaping its future diagnosis and management. This episode explores why Wilson’s disease remains difficult to recognize, often going undiagnosed for years due to its wide range of symptoms and its ability to mimic more common conditions. The conversation highlights the real-world challenges faced by patients, families, and clinicians, including inconsistencies in care and the impact on quality of life. Looking ahead, the discussion focuses on the exciting progress being made across genetics, diagnostics, and treatment development. Learn how new research is uncovering a broader understanding of how common Wilson’s disease may actually be, along with emerging technologies that could enable earlier and more accurate detection. The episode also touches on the evolution of treatment approaches, including improvements to existing therapies and the potential for innovative options on the horizon. This high-level overview is ideal for hepatology providers, gastroenterology clinicians, and advanced practice providers who want to stay informed on where the field is headed—without getting lost in complex clinical detail. Discover why Wilson’s disease is entering a new era of innovation and what that could mean for improving patient outcomes in the years ahead.

In this engaging CLDF podcast episode, Fred Gordon, MD, and Valentina Medici, MD, explore the fundamentals of Wilson’s disease and why it remains one of the most challenging liver conditions to recognize in clinical practice. The conversation focuses on the importance of awareness, highlighting how this rare disease can present in many different ways and often goes overlooked or misdiagnosed.Listeners will gain a high-level understanding of when to consider Wilson’s disease, why early detection is so important, and how clinicians approach the diagnostic journey. The discussion also touches on the role of family history, the complexities of confirming a diagnosis, and the evolving tools that support better identification of the disease. This episode is ideal for healthcare professionals looking for a clear, accessible overview of Wilson’s disease and its impact on liver health, without getting lost in overly technical details.

In this high-level hepatology update from the 6th Annual Liver Connect Conference, Sujit Janardhan, MD, PhD, provides an overview of how the understanding and management of cirrhosis and portal hypertension are evolving in 2026. The discussion focuses on the big-picture shifts in the field, including earlier identification of patients at risk, updated definitions of disease progression, and how these changes are influencing overall treatment approaches.Rather than focusing on individual therapies in depth, this session highlights how clinicians are thinking differently about preventing complications, improving long-term outcomes, and using newer, less invasive tools to guide decision-making. It also touches on the broader impact of complications like liver failure, fluid buildup, and cognitive changes, while reinforcing the importance of proactive management and patient-centered care. This overview is ideal for healthcare professionals looking to stay current on the direction of hepatology and the evolving strategies shaping chronic liver disease management.

This educational podcast from the 6th Liver Connect meeting provides a comprehensive overview of the TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure, focusing on patient selection, risk stratification, and evolving techniques to improve outcomes in patients with advanced liver disease. The discussion highlights key indications for TIPS, including recurrent or high-risk variceal bleeding, refractory or recurrent ascites, and select cases of portal vein thrombosis or hepatic venous outflow obstruction such as Budd-Chiari syndrome. Learn how early TIPS intervention can reduce rebleeding risk and improve survival in high-risk patients, as well as when TIPS should be used as salvage therapy or secondary prophylaxis. The episode also explores the importance of frailty assessment, MELD 3.0 scoring, and sarcopenia evaluation in predicting post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy, along with strategies to optimize patients before the procedure. Additionally, it reviews absolute contraindications such as heart failure, severe pulmonary hypertension, and uncontrolled infection, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary decision-making. Finally, emerging data on smaller stent diameters (6–8 mm) are discussed, demonstrating how these innovations may reduce complications while maintaining effective portal decompression. This episode is essential for clinicians managing portal hypertension, cirrhosis complications, and liver transplant candidates.

In this educational overview, Ethan Weinberg, MD, breaks down the fundamentals of portal hypertension and when to consider TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) in clinical practice. The discussion highlights how clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) is diagnosed using both invasive and non-invasive methods, and reviews first-line management with non-selective beta blockers like carvedilol. The video focuses on key indications for TIPS, including variceal bleeding and ascites, emphasizing growing evidence that earlier intervention can improve outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance survival in high-risk patients. It also touches on evolving strategies to optimize patient selection and minimize risks such as hepatic encephalopathy. This high-yield summary is designed for clinicians and advanced practice providers managing cirrhosis and its complications, offering practical insights into when and how to escalate care.

This educational video featuring Dr. Rustgi reviews key updates in hepatology, including HCC surveillance in compensated cirrhosis and the emerging role of liquid biopsies for earlier, more accurate cancer detection. It highlights the limitations of traditional tools like ultrasound and AFP, while introducing advances such as circulating tumor DNA and other minimally invasive biomarkers. The discussion also covers subclinical portal hypertension and the use of HVPG and non-invasive tools for early risk stratification, along with practical applications across patient populations, including MASLD and post-hepatitis C patients. Additionally, it explores the impact of metabolic disease and obesity on cirrhosis progression, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary, personalized management strategies. A concise overview for clinicians looking to stay current on evolving approaches in liver disease and HCC surveillance.