The therapeutic handling of autoimmune liver disease is limited because basic mechanistic insights into immunologically mediated pathophysiology have not yet been translated into standard pharmacological treatments. A future expansion of the incidence of autoimmune liver diseases is anticipated because of growing rates of exposure to an increased variety of xenobiotics of dietary, pharmaceutical or environmental origin. This book, the proceedings of an International Falk Workshop held in Konstanz, Germany, January 23-24, 1997, aims to share front-line thinking among immunologists, biochemists, pharmacologists and clinicians in order to better understand the aetiology of this liver disease and its relation to extra-hepatic factors.

This book contains the proceedings of Falk Symposium 167 entitled 'Liver under Constant Attack - From Fat to Viruses', which was held in Mainz, Germany, on 20-21 September 2008. It merges up-to-date viral liver immunology with relevant topics in clinical practice. Sections cover viral hepatitis, immunosuppressive approaches in liver patients, malignant liver diseases, inflammatory liver diseases and complications of liver cirrhosis. Interdisciplinary discussion of new concepts in the treatment of liver diseases makes this book valuable for scientists and clinicians alike.