CLDF Podcast

Chronic Liver Disease Foundation

The official podcast channel for the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation.

  1. 6D AGO

    Navigating Non-Adherence and Compliance in Wilson's Disease

    In this expert discussion presented in collaboration with the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation, Amanda Cheung, MD, transplant hepatologist at Northwestern Medicine, and Peter Hedera, MD, neurologist and medical geneticist at University of Louisville, explore the complex challenges of medication adherence and long-term compliance in patients with Wilson disease. This educational conversation reviews the lifelong management of Wilson disease, highlighting how both neurologic and hepatic manifestations can significantly impact quality of life, daily functioning, and long-term outcomes. The discussion examines common neurologic symptoms including tremor, dystonia, ataxia, and parkinsonism, as well as hepatic complications ranging from asymptomatic liver enzyme elevations to cirrhosis and acute liver failure. Experts also discuss how Wilson disease can mimic other conditions such as fatty liver disease, contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Throughout the discussion, the faculty address the real-world barriers that affect adherence to Wilson disease therapies, including lifelong treatment burden, complex dosing schedules, food restrictions, medication side effects, cost and insurance challenges, and the transition from pediatric to adult care. The conversation also reviews currently available chelation therapies such as penicillamine and trientine, the role of zinc maintenance therapy, and emerging treatment strategies aimed at improving convenience and patient compliance. Additional insights include the importance of multidisciplinary care teams, patient education, shared decision-making, pharmacy support programs, psychiatric care, and social work involvement in optimizing long-term disease management. This video provides valuable clinical pearls for hepatologists, neurologists, advanced practice providers, and healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with Wilson disease.

    21 min
  2. APR 22

    TIPS Procedure: Identifying Candidates and Minimizing Risk

    This educational podcast from the 6th Liver Connect meeting provides a comprehensive overview of the TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure, focusing on patient selection, risk stratification, and evolving techniques to improve outcomes in patients with advanced liver disease. The discussion highlights key indications for TIPS, including recurrent or high-risk variceal bleeding, refractory or recurrent ascites, and select cases of portal vein thrombosis or hepatic venous outflow obstruction such as Budd-Chiari syndrome. Learn how early TIPS intervention can reduce rebleeding risk and improve survival in high-risk patients, as well as when TIPS should be used as salvage therapy or secondary prophylaxis. The episode also explores the importance of frailty assessment, MELD 3.0 scoring, and sarcopenia evaluation in predicting post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy, along with strategies to optimize patients before the procedure. Additionally, it reviews absolute contraindications such as heart failure, severe pulmonary hypertension, and uncontrolled infection, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary decision-making. Finally, emerging data on smaller stent diameters (6–8 mm) are discussed, demonstrating how these innovations may reduce complications while maintaining effective portal decompression. This episode is essential for clinicians managing portal hypertension, cirrhosis complications, and liver transplant candidates.

    10 min
  3. APR 22

    Wilson Disease: Therapeutic Landscape & Future Directions

    In this insightful CLDF podcast recorded at the 6th Annual Liver Connect Conference, John Vierling, MD, shares a forward-looking overview of Wilson’s disease and the major shifts shaping its future diagnosis and management. This episode explores why Wilson’s disease remains difficult to recognize, often going undiagnosed for years due to its wide range of symptoms and its ability to mimic more common conditions. The conversation highlights the real-world challenges faced by patients, families, and clinicians, including inconsistencies in care and the impact on quality of life. Looking ahead, the discussion focuses on the exciting progress being made across genetics, diagnostics, and treatment development. Learn how new research is uncovering a broader understanding of how common Wilson’s disease may actually be, along with emerging technologies that could enable earlier and more accurate detection. The episode also touches on the evolution of treatment approaches, including improvements to existing therapies and the potential for innovative options on the horizon. This high-level overview is ideal for hepatology providers, gastroenterology clinicians, and advanced practice providers who want to stay informed on where the field is headed—without getting lost in complex clinical detail. Discover why Wilson’s disease is entering a new era of innovation and what that could mean for improving patient outcomes in the years ahead.

    30 min

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The official podcast channel for the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation.