Assessment and Management of Hepatobiliary Disease

Basic and clinical research have in recent years contributed towards clarifying certain aspects ofthe epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of liver diseases. New diagnostic techniques have, moreover, facilitated observations on the evolution of such diseases. Nevertheless, a numberofquestions still remain, especially in the assess- ment and management ofliver patients. The hope that such questions can be answered justifies publications like the present one, which provide experts an opportunity to pre- sent the results oftheir research. The papers collected in this volume cover all aspects of the assessment and man- agement of hepatobiliary disease. The focal points are three summaries ofthe state of the art. The first deals with the highly topical problem of liver transplants from the point ofview ofpatient selection. Roger Williams in fact stresses the urgent need to ex- ercise caution in the selection ofsuitable candidates. This is especially true at the pre- sent time when cyclosporin A, a new immunosuppressive drug now available on the market, has significantly changed the natural history ofsurvival after liver transplanta- tion.