This book is the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 137 on "Liver Diseases: Advances in Treatment and Prevention" (part of the XII International Falk Liver Week 2003 in honour of Hans Popper’s 100th birthday, held on October 17-19, 2003). It covers our present knowledge of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of liver diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and delta hepatitis as well as alcoholic liver diseases, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and the hereditary liver diseases haemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. In addition to these clinical entities, the sequelae of liver cirrhosis and its complications, including the clinical management of ascites, the hepatorenal as well as the hepato- and porto-pulmonary hypertension syndrome are discussed. New developments with respect to liver support systems and liver transplantation are further highlights of the proceedings.

The main topics mentioned above are complemented by state-of-the-art chapters on "Hepatocellular Carcinoma", "Emerging Hepatitis Viruses" and "Fulminant Liver Failure" that are of interest to both basic scientists as well as clinicians. A special section is devoted to "Liver Histology" as a tribute to Hans Popper who contributed eminently to the basic and clinical aspects of hepatology.

All in all, Liver Diseases: Advances in Treatment and Prevention provides an exciting overview of the current developments in the treatment and prevention of viral, alcoholic, non-alcoholic and hereditary liver diseases, presented by an international faculty of outstanding scientists and clinicians.