Diseases of the Liver and Biliary Tree

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of diseases of the biliary tree. Topics covered include: congenital biliary abnormalities, genetic cholangiopathies, autoimmune cholangiopathies, inflammatory and drug-related cholangiopathies, and cholangiocarcinoma. Given their particular importance (even for clinicians working with adults), pediatric conditions are also examined. In addition, a special section is devoted to pregnancy and diseases of the biliary tree, and to transplants and diseases of the biliary tree.

Each chapter offers up-to-date information on the management of the diseases discussed. Moreover, the book addresses new treatments for autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases, reflecting the new therapeutic targets that have recently been discovered. Examples include farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-agonists, together with new drugs that affect the composition of bile flow. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable guide for a broad range of practitioners.

Part 1. Congenital biliary abnormalities:  Biliary atresia. Congenital cystic lesion of the biliary tree. Biliary hamartomas.- Part 2.   Genetic cholangiopathies: Alagille syndrome. Caroli disease. Liver disease in cystic fibrosis. Low-phospholipidic associated cholelithiasis (LPAC syndrome).- Part 3.    Autoimmune cholangiopathies: Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Primary sclerosing cholangitis. IgG4-related cholangitis. Overlap syndromes.- Part 4.   Secondary cholangiopathies: Inflammatory cholangitis. Drug-induced cholangiopathies.- Part 5 Neoplasms of the biliary tree:Cholangiocarcinoma.- Part 6.   Special topics: Pregnancy and diseases of the biliary tree. Transplant and diseases of the biliary tree.

Annarosa Floreani is currently an Associated Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Padua (Italy). She received her medical degree from the University of Padua, and completed her specialization in Geriatrics, and in Gastroenterology at the same University. She was a Research Associate at the Liver Unit in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in 1986, and Visiting Professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979 and 2000. Over the last twenty years the focus of her research group has been chronic cholestasis, particularly primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis. She has been awarded numerous honours, scholarships and fellowships, has authored or co-authored 230 peer-reviewed publications, 10 book chapters, and has delivered over 300 invited lectures. Professor Floreani is a reviewer for several scientific journals, including Hepatology, The Lancet, Gut, American Journal of Gastroenterology, Journal of Hepatology, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Digestive and Liver Disease, Liver International, European Journal of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Journal of Viral Hepatitis, and Molecular Biology Reports.  Additionally, she is a member of various academic societies, including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (EASL), and the Italian Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AISF). She is also an active member of the following international consortia: IPSCSG International Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Group, International Autoimmune Hepatitis Study Group, Global Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Study Group, National Study Center for Gender Medicine, and the European Network for Rare Diseases.