Organised by the COST Action EURO-VALDIG NET and the French FILFOIE network, the meeting brought together specialists from around the world at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) with a clear objective: to share advances, reach consensus on key criteria and lay the groundwork for future clinical trials in a rare but highly impactful disease.
The meeting was coordinated by Dr Virginia Hernández‑Gea, senior hepatologist at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, leader of the Liver Disease and Vascular System (LiVas) group at IDIBAPS and member of the CIBERehd group led by Dr Juan Carlos García‑Pagán. Dr Hernández‑Gea organised the event together with Dr Pierre‑Emmanuel Rautou and Dr Laure Elkrief. The meeting combined in‑person and online sessions, helping to consolidate a European network for scientific collaboration. Over two days, hepatologists and radiologists took part in scientific sessions covering topics ranging from the pathophysiology and genetics of PSVD to its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Spanish contribution to international consensus
One of the most relevant moments was the second day, which focused on reaching consensus on inclusion criteria, surrogate markers and endpoints for future PSVD clinical trials. Spanish experts from CIBERehd played an active role in this process, including Juan Carlos García-Pagán, Luis Téllez, Ángela Puente, Anna Baiges and Fanny Turon, together with Virginia Hernández-Gea. Their contribution was key to ensuring that future studies incorporate harmonised criteria and patient-centred outcomes, reinforcing Spain’s leadership in this field.
Scientific endorsement and patient involvement
The consensus reached received endorsement from the main international scientific societies involved in the study of portal hypertension and hepatic vascular diseases: AEEH, EASL, AASLD, ALEH and the Baveno Cooperation.
In addition, the meeting included patient representatives in discussions on quality of life and patient-reported outcomes (PROs), ensuring that future research addresses patients’ real needs.
A decisive step for translational research
Key topics such as PSVD pathophysiology, genetics, diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies were discussed over the two days. These discussions are essential to move towards robust clinical trials and effective treatments for a disease that, despite its low prevalence, can have serious consequences.
Through this initiative, Clínic-IDIBAPS and CIBERehd reaffirm their leading role in international research on portal hypertension and hepatic vascular diseases, promoting collaborative networks that transform clinical practice and improve patients’ quality of life.
