European Association for the Study of the Liver has recently published clinical practice guidelines on the treatment and management of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

United European Gastroenterology (UEG), with support from the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA), Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE), EuropaColon and Eurocare (The Alcohol Policy Alliance), published the report Alcohol and Digestive Cancers Across Europe: Time for Change. Report reveals the data on alcohol consumption across Europe, its direct and indirect impact on digestive cancers and the alarming lack of awareness of the link between alcohol and digestive cancers among members of the public and many healthcare professionals.

The European Liver Patients’ Association supports unanimous response of hepatitis community to the article “Miracle hepatitis C drugs costing £30k per patient may have no clinical effect”, published on Guardian on 8th of June 2017, referring to the Cochrane Systematic Review on DAA-Based Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C and their conclusion that such treatment may clear virus from blood, but there is no evidence they prevent harm or save lives.  

Launched at an event in the European Parliament today, the ACHIEVE (short for Associations Collaborating on Hepatitis to Immunize and Eliminate the Viruses in Europe) coalition calls on the EU to take action to eliminate viral hepatitis B and C by 2030 in the WHO European Region, in line with the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis, the WHO Europe Action Plan, which build on and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On the occasion of the 1st EU NAFLD - NASH Policy Summit, organized by ELPA on May 31st 2107, Commissioner Carlos Moedas sent a video message on the importance of research and innovation in fighting this disease. 

Aiming to point out to a still missing and much needed concrete action across Europe to face the next major public health challenge, NASH and NAFLD, leading European and national policy-makers, decision-makers, experts, medical specialists and patient advocacy groups active in liver diseases, met at the first European-wide NASH-NAFLD Policy Summit.

ELPA and Norgine have launched a patient leaflet to improve the early detection of hepatic encephalopathy, and a patient passport to facilitate conversations with healthcare professionals. Hepatic encephalopathy remains under-diagnosed and under-treated, as many patients and carers are unaware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. In addition, healthcare providers don’t always identify and treat the often subtle symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, and this can lead to poor patient outcomes and increased hospital admissions.1 Hepatic encephalopathy is a significant complication of advanced chronic liver disease, and occurs in up to 40% of patients or as many as 200,000* people in Europe. 1,2

What is Next for the Liver?

Dear visitors, look for our article on the page 82 of the Brussels Airlines inflight magazine.

The ELPA President has participated 69 World Health Assembly in Geneve where the adoption of the first ever Global Hepatitis Strategy took place on 28th of May at exactly 12:35 p.m.