Welcome letter 

Dear Colleagues,

The burden of alcohol-related disease is heavy worldwide and harmful drinking habits are progressively spreading from the north to all parts of Europe. The epidemiology of alcohol-related liver disease is changing along with altering patterns of alcohol consumption. To this regard, recent studies from the UK show a drastic increase in the risk of liver-related mortality, which could be related to increased binge-drinking behavior. The interactions between alcohol abuse, genetic factors and comorbidities such as obesity are becoming increasingly clearer. Moreover, non-invasive methods to estimate liver injury and fibrosis open up a new era for evaluation of patients with alcoholic liver disease.

The importance of abstinence and supportive treatment such as nutrition are well established. Significant advancements in the management of alcohol dependence emphasize the need for closer collaboration between hepatologists and alcohol dependence specialists. However, there are important clinical issues that require innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools. For example, the current therapy for alcoholic hepatitis (i.e. corticosteroids and/or pentoxifylline) that is not effective in all patients. Short-term mortality is still very high and new pathophysiological-oriented therapies are urgently needed for these patients. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage alcoholic liver disease but it is only applicable to a small proportion of those requiring treatment. In the future, clinicians may recommend adapting the length of the abstinence period to the severity of the liver injury. In recent years, there have been significant advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of alcohol-related liver damage. Interfering such pathogenic pathways with novel therapeutic agents opens this exciting era for the treatment of severe alcoholic liver disease.

In a broader context, there are differing opinions regarding the optimal social and public health measures required to reduce alcohol-related harm and alcoholic liver disease. In a time of stimulating scientific advancements, social challenges and clinical controversies, we invite you to the EASL Monothematic Conference on Alcoholic Liver Disease.

This Conference, to be held in Athens, is an opportunity to gather experts from around the world to exchange research, experience and opinions on the understanding and management of this severe medical problem.

Topics to be addressed include:

• Epidemiology of Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Natural history and Progression of Fibrosis in Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Current Evaluation and Management of Alcohol Dependence
• Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Assessment and Management of Alcoholic Hepatitis
• Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Liver Disease

The organisation of the Monothematic Conference on Alcoholic Liver Disease represents EASL’s commitment to the European Alcohol and Health Forum (EAHF), of which EASL became a member in December 2009. Established in 2007 as  a cornerstone of the implementation of the EU Alcohol Strategy, the European Alcohol and Health Forum provides a common platform for stakeholders, including industry and health NGOs, to demonstrate their commitment to reducing alcohol-related harm in Europe. As a member of the EAHF, EASL put forward the commitment to promote the education and training of healthcare professionals in the field of alcoholic liver disease through the organisation of this monothematic conference and the media relations programme around it. EASL's membership of the EAHF is part of a wider programme of advocacy activities in Brussels intended to raise awareness of the impact of alcohol consumption on the prevalence of liver disease and to highlight the need for targeted EU policy action, in particular to improve research opportunities for the liver research community.