Liver cirrhosis and its complications

Liver cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver diseases with a high morbidity and mortality. It is the 11th most common cause of death worldwide. Liver cirrhosis related complications, such as ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, and hepatocellular carcinoma herald the progression of liver diseases. 

In recent years, the management of liver cirrhosis and its complications has greatly evolved. However, prognosis is still dismal, and liver transplantation remains the sole curative treatment option.

This Special Collection aims to collate original research articles and review articles regarding the management of liver cirrhosis and its complications. We are also interested in high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses in this field.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Management of compensated liver cirrhosis
• Current and future therapies for cirrhosis associated portal hypertension
• Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic hydrothorax, hypersplenism, hepatic myelopathy, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, infection, acute kidney injury, malnutrition, and portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis
• Use of liver support devices and extracorporeal therapies in advanced cirrhosis
• Use of direct antiviral drugs, statins, anticoagulants, non-selective beta-blockers, human albumin infusions, and endoscopic variceal treatment in liver cirrhosis
• Early use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in severe complications of liver cirrhosis
• Early assessment of renal function, cardiac function, and nutritional status in liver cirrhosis
• Role of gut microbiota in cirrhosis and associated clinical events
• Pathogenesis, prognosis, and management of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF)
• Risk factors and surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis
• Primary and secondary prophylaxis of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding
• Impact of spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) on patients’ outcomes and its management in liver cirrhosis
• Management of liver transplantation candidates and recipients
• Short- and long-term prognosis of liver cirrhosis

The collection launches on May 15th, 2022 and will remain open for submissions until 31st December 2022.

Please email Dr Lisa Heinke, the inhouse editor for BMC Gastroenterology (lisa.heinke@springernature.com) if you would like more information before you submit. 

This collection welcomes submissions of Research articles, including systematic reviews, on the topic of liver cirrhosis and its complications as well as management thereof. Reviews, Guidelines and Study Protocols will be considered at the discretion of the journal’s Editor. Please note that unsolicited Reviews and Guidelines will not be considered as per our submission guidelines. 

Data sets and descriptions relevant to the collection will be considered in BMC Research Notes as Data Notes. You can find out more about this article type here. This type of content will be published in BMC Research Notes and included in the final collection.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process overseen by our Guest Editors, Dr Xingshun Qi, Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, Dr Fernando Gomes Romeiro and Dr Le Wang. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have carefully read the submission guidelines for BMC Gastroenterology. Please ensure you highlight in your cover letter that you are submitting to a collection and select the collection in the submission questionnaire in Editorial Manager.