<strong>Section I:</strong> Etiology of portal hypertension and experimental models; L.A. Colombato, M. Robin, G. Pomier-Layrargues, P.-M. Huet, W. Jiménez, J. Clária, V. Arroyo, A. Holstege, M. Köllinger, J. Schölmerich, K. Okuda, and the study group for idiopathic portal hypertension and aberrant portal hemodynamics, H.E. Blum, E. Walter, A. Stallmach, M. Zeitz, J. Pausch. <strong>Section II:</strong> Pathological anatomy and pathophysiology of the splanchnic and hepatic circulation in portal hypertension; V.J. Desmet, D. Lebrec, J. Reichen. <strong>Section III:</strong> Associated disorders, consequences and pathogenesis of complications of portal hypertension; A. von Herbay, W. Stremmel, H. de Groot, H. Sies, G. Strohmeyer, D. Hässinger, R. Schreiber, B. Stoll, F. Zhang, W. Gerok, B.A. Runyon, J.P. Pascal, J.-P. Benhamou, D. Lebrec, A. Hadengue, M. Bernardi, F. Revisani, A. Colantoni, A. Gasbarrini, S. de Notariis, G. Gasbarrini, P. Ferenci. <strong>Section IV:</strong> Diagnostic assessment of portal hypertension; M. Staritz, A. Hammes, P.A. McCormick. <strong>Section V:</strong> Treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding; L. Pagliaro, J. Bosch, F. Politi, A. Puleo, G. d'Amico. <strong>Section V/1:</strong> Prophylactic treatment of a first variceal hemorrhage; N.d. Grace, T. Sauerbruch. <strong>Section V/2:</strong> Treatment of acute variceal hemorrhage; W.E. Fleig, J. Terés, A. K. Burroughs, M. Panagou, W. Lao, A. Hirner, P. Blauert, P.-F. Petersen. <strong>Section V/3:</strong> Prophylactic treatment of recurrent variceal bleeding; S.G.J. Williams, D. Westaby, J.S. Goff, M. Rössle, A. Ochs, K. Haag, P. Neuhaus, H. Keck, P. Lemmens, O. Guckelberger. <strong>Section VI:</strong> Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy; E. Lottere, K.P. Maier. <strong>Section VII:</strong> Treatment of ascites and its complications; A.L. Gerbes, P. Ginés, J. Saló,m C. Vons, R. Fairfull-Smith, D. Franco, V. Gross, T. Andus, H.-G. Leser, J. Schölmerich. <strong>Section VIII:</strong> Hepatorenal syndrome; J.H. Henriksen, H. Ring-Larsen, J. Saló, J. Rodés. <strong>Section IX:</strong> Transplantation; R. Pichlmayr, H. Lang, K.J. Oldhafer. <br/>
