Best Hepatology Journals (2026): Ranked by Impact and Accessibility
Ranked list of the top 11 hepatology journals by impact factor, acceptance rate, APC, and review speed, covering viral hepatitis, MASLD, HCC, liver transplantation, and cholestatic disease research.
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Hepatology sits at the intersection of gastroenterology, oncology, infectious disease, and metabolic medicine. The field has its own dedicated journals, but liver research also appears regularly in GI journals, transplant journals, and general medical journals. Knowing where to submit your hepatology paper means understanding both the dedicated liver journal landscape and the broader journals that welcome liver research.
The biggest shift in recent years is the dominance of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly NAFLD/NASH) research, which has flooded hepatology journals with submissions. If your paper is about MASLD, competition for journal space is particularly fierce.
Elite tier (IF 15+)
These journals publish the trials, meta-analyses, and translational discoveries that change hepatology practice.
1. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (IF ~38.6)
The Lancet GH covers both GI and hepatology, but it publishes a substantial volume of liver research, including major hepatitis trials, MASLD outcome studies, and liver cancer screening trials. If your hepatology paper has global health implications, especially around viral hepatitis elimination or liver cancer prevention, The Lancet GH is the highest-impact option.
Acceptance rate: ~5-7%. APC: None. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Clinical hepatology, viral hepatitis, liver cancer, global liver disease burden.
2. Journal of Hepatology (IF ~33.0)
Journal of Hepatology is the flagship journal of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). It publishes clinical and translational liver research across all subfields: viral hepatitis, MASLD, autoimmune liver diseases, cholestatic diseases, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation. Journal of Hepatology consistently ranks as the top dedicated hepatology journal by IF.
EASL clinical practice guidelines are published here, so research that informs guidelines carries extra weight.
Acceptance rate: ~10-12%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All hepatology, EASL guidelines, viral hepatitis, MASLD, HCC, transplantation.
3. Gastroenterology (IF ~25)
Gastroenterology (AGA) publishes substantial hepatology content alongside GI research. The journal is a top venue for liver fibrosis research, MASLD clinical trials, and hepatobiliary translational science. If your paper bridges GI and hepatology (e.g., portal hypertension, hepatobiliary imaging), Gastroenterology provides a broader audience.
Acceptance rate: ~8-10%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: Hepatology within broader GI, liver disease, hepatobiliary research.
4. Gut (IF ~24)
Gut (BMJ) also publishes significant hepatology content. The journal is particularly strong in liver cancer, viral hepatitis, and the gut-liver axis. If your paper connects the microbiome to liver disease or studies the gut-liver relationship, Gut is uniquely well-positioned.
Acceptance rate: ~8-10%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Hepatology, gut-liver axis, viral hepatitis, HCC.
Strong tier (IF 5-15)
These journals publish excellent hepatology research without requiring practice-changing trial data.
5. Hepatology (IF ~16.8)
Hepatology is the flagship journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). It publishes clinical and translational liver research, AASLD practice guidelines, and basic liver science. Hepatology competes with Journal of Hepatology for the top position, with slightly different editorial emphasis. Hepatology tends to publish more basic science and translational research than Journal of Hepatology, which leans more clinical.
Acceptance rate: ~12-15%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All hepatology, AASLD guidelines, basic liver science, translational research.
6. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (IF ~12)
CGH (AGA) publishes clinical hepatology alongside GI content. The journal is excellent for clinical practice-oriented liver research: diagnostic accuracy studies, treatment outcome analyses, and clinical risk scores. If your paper is more about clinical decision-making than mechanism, CGH is a strong fit.
Acceptance rate: ~12-15%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: Clinical hepatology, diagnosis, treatment outcomes, risk stratification.
7. Liver International (IF ~6)
Liver International covers all areas of hepatology with a broad international perspective. The journal publishes clinical research, translational studies, and reviews. It's less selective than Journal of Hepatology or Hepatology, making it a practical mid-tier option for solid hepatology research.
Acceptance rate: ~20%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All hepatology, international perspective, clinical and translational.
8. JHEP Reports (IF ~5)
JHEP Reports is Journal of Hepatology's open-access companion journal, published by EASL. It launched in 2019 and has grown rapidly. The journal accepts hepatology research that meets high methodological standards but may not reach Journal of Hepatology's impact threshold. Staying in the EASL family provides visibility at EASL conferences.
Acceptance rate: ~20-25%. APC: $3,000. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All hepatology, open access, EASL family.
Accessible tier (IF 3-5)
These journals publish sound hepatology research at accessible thresholds.
9. Hepatology Communications (IF ~5)
Hepatology Communications is Hepatology's open-access companion journal from AASLD. It provides a cascade option within the AASLD family for papers that are methodologically sound but not competitive for the main journal. The open-access format ensures global visibility.
Acceptance rate: ~25%. APC: $2,500. Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: All hepatology, open access, AASLD family.
10. Journal of Viral Hepatitis (IF ~3)
JVH is the specialty journal for viral hepatitis research, covering hepatitis B, C, D, and E. If your paper is specifically about viral hepatitis epidemiology, treatment, or virology, JVH's specialized readership is a better match than a generalist hepatology journal.
Acceptance rate: ~25-30%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Hepatitis B, C, D, E, viral hepatitis treatment, epidemiology.
11. World Journal of Hepatology (IF ~3)
WJH is an open-access journal covering all hepatology topics. It's one of the more accessible options for hepatology research that doesn't fit the top-tier journals. Review times are moderate, and the acceptance rate is relatively generous.
Acceptance rate: ~30-35%. APC: $1,300. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All hepatology, open access, accessible.
Decision framework
If your paper is a large MASLD/NASH clinical trial, start with The Lancet GH, Journal of Hepatology, or Gastroenterology. MASLD trials are in high demand at all three journals.
If your paper is about viral hepatitis, Journal of Hepatology and Hepatology are the top generalist venues. Journal of Viral Hepatitis is the specialty option. The Lancet GH publishes high-impact HBV/HCV elimination studies.
If your paper is about hepatocellular carcinoma, Gut, Journal of Hepatology, and Gastroenterology all publish HCC research. For specifically surgical or interventional HCC research, consider also Liver Cancer (IF ~8) or JHCC.
If your paper is about liver transplantation, Journal of Hepatology and Hepatology are the hepatology options. American Journal of Transplantation (IF ~8) and Liver Transplantation (IF ~4) are the transplant-specific alternatives.
If your paper is basic liver science, Hepatology historically publishes more basic science than Journal of Hepatology. Hepatology Communications provides an OA option.
If your paper is about autoimmune or cholestatic liver disease, these relatively smaller subfields find good homes in Journal of Hepatology, Hepatology, and Liver International. The specialist audience at these journals understands the nuances of PSC, PBC, and AIH research.
Common mistakes hepatology researchers make when choosing journals
Submitting to GI journals when a hepatology journal fits better. Gastroenterology and Gut both publish liver research, but your paper will compete with GI submissions for space. If your paper is purely about liver disease, the dedicated hepatology journals (Journal of Hepatology, Hepatology) give it a better chance.
Not using the EASL/AASLD cascade. Journal of Hepatology has JHEP Reports. Hepatology has Hepatology Communications. If the flagship rejects your paper, stay in the family rather than starting fresh at a different publisher.
Ignoring the MASLD saturation problem. Every hepatology journal is flooded with MASLD submissions. If your paper is about MASLD, you need a genuinely new angle (genetic subgroups, novel biomarkers, pediatric MASLD) to stand out. Another observational study showing MASLD prevalence in a new population will struggle.
Confusing Hepatology (journal) with hepatology (field). Researchers sometimes say "published in hepatology" meaning the field, when they actually need to specify the AASLD journal Hepatology versus Journal of Hepatology (EASL). Be precise in your cover letter.
Submitting HCC papers only to hepatology journals. Hepatocellular carcinoma is also published in oncology journals (JCO, Lancet Oncology, JAMA Oncology). If your HCC paper is primarily about treatment outcomes, oncology journals may give it broader visibility than hepatology journals.
How to use this list
Impact factor is one signal, not the whole picture. The journals ranked above vary in scope, editorial culture, and what they consider a strong submission. The right journal for your paper depends on how your study sits within the field's research agenda, not just on which title has the highest number next to it.
A paper with solid methodology and honest conclusions that doesn't quite reach the novelty bar of the top-ranked journals will fare better at the second or third tier than a round of rejections from journals above its weight class. Start with an honest assessment of where your work sits, not where you wish it sat.
Before targeting any journal on this list, verify the current author guidelines directly. Word limits, submission system requirements, and scope boundaries change. The rankings above reflect 2024 JCR data and current editorial positioning, but journals evolve.
Get your manuscript ready
Before submitting to any hepatology journal, run your manuscript through a free Manusights scan to check formatting, reference accuracy, and reporting standards. Hepatology papers with complex biomarker panels, imaging data, and genetic analyses are prone to inconsistencies that a pre-submission review can catch before they cause reviewer concerns.
Sources
- Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR) 2024 — Gastroenterology & Hepatology
- SCImago Journal & Country Rank — Hepatology
- European Association for the Study of the Liver — Journal of Hepatology and JHEP Reports
- American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases — Hepatology and Hepatology Communications
- The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology — About
Reference library
Use the core publishing datasets alongside this guide
This article answers one part of the publishing decision. The reference library covers the recurring questions that usually come next: how selective journals are, how long review takes, and what the submission requirements look like across journals.
Dataset / reference guide
Peer Review Timelines by Journal
Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.
Dataset / benchmark
Biomedical Journal Acceptance Rates
A field-organized acceptance-rate guide that works as a neutral benchmark when authors are deciding how selective to target.
Reference table
Journal Submission Specs
A high-utility submission table covering word limits, figure caps, reference limits, and formatting expectations.
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