Baveno VIII in Practice: How Non-Invasive Tests Are Reshaping Portal Hypertension Management

September 29 | 8:00 PM CEST · 12:00 PM MDT | Replay available

Reading time: 4 min | Topic: Portal Hypertension · Clinical Guidance

The Baveno VIII Consensus — published in the Journal of Hepatology in August 2026 — sets new international standards for the management of advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) and portal hypertension.¹

Built on 272 consensus statements from 84 experts across nine panels, it marks a decisive shift: non-invasive risk stratification is now the primary pathway for identifying and managing clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in patients with compensated ACLD (cACLD).²

What Baveno VIII Changes for Clinical Practice

Baveno VIII reinforces and refines the central role of non-invasive tests (NITs) — moving the field away from routine invasive hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement toward structured, evidence-based non-invasive algorithms.³

Key updated thresholds include:⁴

• Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) <10 kPa rules out cACLD in the absence of other clinical signs
• LSM >15 kPa is highly suggestive of cACLD
• CSPH can be excluded when LSM ≤15 kPa combined with platelet count ≥150×10⁹/L
• CSPH can be diagnosed when LSM ≥25 kPa (viral/alcohol-related cACLD or non-obese MASLD), ANTICIPATE probability ≥75%, or spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) >55 kPa

Beyond diagnosis, the new consensus also shifts the clinical endpoint: from estimating CSPH probability to predicting decompensation — using LSM-based step rules — as the primary prognostic target.⁵

The Role of FibroScan^®-Based Biomarkers

FibroScan^® remains at the centre of Baveno VIII recommendations. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE^®) is the best-validated NIT for both cACLD staging and CSPH risk stratification.⁶

Baveno VIII also confirms the added value of spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) — available on FibroScan^® — to reduce the diagnostic grey zone and improve risk stratification in patients where LSM results are indeterminate. ⁷

The new 100 Hz probe frequency (VCTE-100Hz) further expands applicability to patients previously difficult to assess.

From Guidelines to Practice: Join the Live Expert Webinar

Reading the consensus is the first step. Applying it with confidence is the next. On Tuesday, September 29, two leading experts will translate Baveno VIII into actionable clinical decisions — live, with interactive case discussions.

🎙️ Prof. Juan Gonzalez Abraldes
MD, PhD, FAASLD – Director, Liver Unit, University of Alberta

🎙️ Dr. Elton Dajti
MD, PhD – Gastroenterology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna

Topics covered: updated diagnostic algorithms, indeterminate zones, NITs in recompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), portosinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD), and two interactive live clinical cases.

📅 September 29 | 8:00 PM CEST · 12:00 PM MDT | 60 min | Replay available | Register for the webinar →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Baveno VIII?

Baveno VIII is the eighth international consensus conference on portal hypertension, held in Baveno, Italy in March 2026 and published in the Journal of Hepatology in August 2026. It provides updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) and its complications, with a strong focus on non-invasive testing.

What are the main changes in Baveno VIII compared to Baveno VII?

Baveno VIII refines NIT-based diagnostic thresholds for cACLD and CSPH, confirms the value of SSM alongside LSM, introduces the VCTE-100Hz frequency for broader applicability, and shifts the prognostic focus from CSPH probability to decompensation prediction as the primary clinical endpoint.

What role does FibroScan^® play in Baveno VIII?

FibroScan^® — through LSM and SSM by VCTE^® — is the best-validated non-invasive tool for cACLD and CSPH assessment under the Baveno VIII framework, and is recommended as the first-line approach for non-invasive risk stratification.

Can non-invasive tests replace invasive hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement?

According to Baveno VIII, HVPG is no longer necessary for routine risk stratification in cACLD patients. Validated NIT combinations allow most patients to be classified non-invasively, with invasive assessment reserved for indeterminate cases.

This content is intended for healthcare professionals only. FibroScan^® devices and associated software should be used in accordance with local regulations and the official instructions for use.

Sources
1. Baveno VIII published in Journal of Hepatology, August 2026 — MedUni Vienna: https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/about-us/news/2026/news-in-august-2026/new-international-standards-for-cirrhosis-and-portal-hypertension/
2. 84 experts, 272 statements — LinkedIn / Journal of Hepatology: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/journal-of-hepatology_baveno-viii-consensus-conference-provides-activity-7497919239224365056-vomL
3. NITs replacing invasive assessment — EASL 2025 poster: https://www.postersessiononline.eu/173580348_eu/congresos/EASL2025/aula/-WED_200_EASL2025.pdf
4. Updated thresholds (LSM, SSM, ANTICIPATE) — Baveno VIII full paper, Journal of Hepatology: https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(26)02778-9/fulltext
5. Shift to decompensation as primary endpoint — PubMed abstract, Baveno VIII: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42624290/
6. FibroScan^® and VCTE^® in Baveno — Echosens Baveno VII reference page
7. Added value of SSM — EASL summary of Baveno VIII: https://easl.eu/baveno-viii-consensus-conference-provides-updated-guidance-on-advanced-chronic-liver-disease-portal-hypertension-and-vascular-liver-disease/