Chapter 6.0. History of Paediatric Hepatology in ESPGHAN

Hepatology played an important role in ESPGAN from the beginning. In 1989, the Hepatology Committee was started. In the early 1990s H for hepatology was included in ESPGHAN. Hepatology Summer schools were held from 1995 and later monothematic conferences met the needs of many young ESPGHAN members. The role of ESPGHAN members in the progress of diagnostic and therapeutic measures in hepatitis B and C will be elucidated (Chapter 6.1) as well as the role of other ESPGHAN members in the understanding of immunological hepatic disorders of childhood (Chapter 6.2). During childhood, many metabolic hepatic disorders threaten the life and health of children making orchestrated measures in diagnostic and therapeutic efforts necessary (Chapter 6.3). The pathophysiology of cholestasis was cleared by the detection of bile salt transporters, which were identified by ESPGHAN members in the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom and Germany (Chapter 6.4). Finally liver transplantation for acute fulminant and chronic end stage liver disease was established as a meanwhile standard treatment option (Chapter 6.5). Immunosupression in liver transplantation was improved and standardized through the cooperation of many ESPGHAN member driven studies (Chapter 6.6).