The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Working Party on Portal Hypertension has developed consensus guidelines on the disease profile, diagnosis, and management of noncirrhotic portal fibrosis and idiopathic portal hypertension. The consensus statements, prepared and deliberated at length by the experts in this field, were presented at the annual meeting of the APASL at Kyoto in March 2007. This article includes the statements approved by the APASL along with brief backgrounds of various aspects of the disease.

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Approximately 700,000 people die of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) each year worldwide, making it the third leading cause of cancer related deaths. Rupture is a potentially life-threatening complication of HCC. The incidence of HCC rupture is higher in Asia and Africa than in Europe. In Asia approximately 10% of patients with a diagnosis of HCC die due to rupture each year. Spontaneous rupture is the third most common cause of death due to HCC after tumor progression and liver failure. The diagnosis of rupture in patients without history of cirrhosis or HCC may be difficult. The most common symptom of ruptured HCC is abdominal pain (66-100%). Shock at presentation can be seen in 33-90% of cases; abdominal distension is reported in 33%. Abdominal paracentesis documenting hemoperitoneum is a reliable test to provisionally diagnose rupture of HCC, it can be seen in up to 86% of clinically suspected cases. The diagnoses can be confirmed by computed tomography scan or ultrasonography, or both in 75% of cases. Careful pre-treatment evaluation is essential to decide the best treatment option. Management of ruptured HCC involves multidisciplinary care where hemostasis remains a primary concern. Earlier studies have reported a mortality rate of 25-75% in the acute phase of ruptured HCC. However, recent studies have reported a significant decrease in the incidence of mortality. There is also a decrease in the incidence of ruptured HCC due to improved surveillance and early detection of HCC. Transarterial Embolization is the least invasive method to effectively induce hemostasis in the acute stage with a success rate of 53-100%. Hepatic resection in the other hand has the advantage of achieving hemostasis and in the same go offers a potentially curative resection in selected patients. (J CLIN EXP HEPATOL 2019;9:245-256) INCIDENCE The reported incidence of HCC rupture shows a distinct global variation. In the West, the incidence of HCC is increasing but HCC ruptures are relatively uncommon, with an incidence of less than 3%. 12-14 However, in Asia and Africa, the incidence is considerably higher, ranging between 3% and 26%. 14,15 The incidences of ruptured HCC reported from around the globe are 10% from Japan, 12.4% from Thailand, 12.7% from southern Africa, 14.5% from

Aims To study the prevalence, risk factors, role of serum biomarkers for diagnosis and impact of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF). Methods An analysis of IFI in patients with ACLF (EASL criteria) was conducted retrospectively. The diagnosis of IFI in clinically suspected patients was based on EORTC/MSG criteria. The demographical, clinical, laboratory details and outcomes were analysed. Results Out of 264 patients with ACLF, 54 (20.4%) patients with suspicion of IFI were evaluated and IFI was diagnosed in 39 (14.7%). Invasive candidiasis was documented in 25 (64.1%) and invasive aspergillosis in 14 (35.8%). The most common source of infection was respiratory (n = 13) followed by renal (n = 7) and spontaneous fungal peritonitis (n = 6). On univariate analysis, diabetes mellitus, hemodialysis, prior antibiotic use, cerebral and respiratory organ failures, Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (CLIF‐OF and CLIF‐C ACLF) scores were predictors for development of IFI (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, hemodialysis and prior antibiotics use predicted the development of IFI (P < 0.05). Non‐survivors were more likely to have IFI (P = 0.029), high CLIF‐OF and CLIF‐C ACLF scores (P < 0.001; for both) and higher 1,3‐β D Glucan (BDG) levels (P = 0.009). The sensitivity, specificity, and AUROC of BDG (80 pg/mL) and Galactomannan index (GMI [0.5]) for diagnosing IFI were 97.4%, 60%, 0.770% and 43.6%, 100%, 0.745 respectively. Conclusions Invasive fungal infections constitutes an important cause of mortality in ACLF patients. BDG and GMI can be useful markers to guide antifungal therapy in patients at high risk for IFI.

ACLF is a common problem in our clinical practice. Non-hepatic insults like non-hepatotropic infections/sepsis are common acute precipitating events.

sclerotherapy of gastric varices with BC is a safe and an effective treatment for control of bleeding and eradication. The needle should be withdrawn immediately after the BC injection to prevent its impaction into the tissue adhesive.

CLIF-SOFA criteria is better than APASL criteria to classify patients into ACLF based on their prognosis. CLIF-SOFA score is the best predictor of short-term mortality.

AIH presenting as ACLF is not uncommon in Asian patients. A low threshold for liver biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis as nearly half the patients are seronegative. Early stratification to steroid therapy or liver transplantation (MELD>27; HE in ≥ F3) would reduce ICU stay and improve outcomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.