View clinical trials related to Cirrhosis, Liver.
Filter by:Due to providing valuable clinical information while being minimally invasive, blood-based testing will most likely be a prerequisite for future large-scale screening of high-risk populations. As a variety of pathological processes, including carcinogenesis, may cause changes in both the concentration and the structure and spatial arrangement of body biomolecules, the spectroscopic analysis of blood-based derivatives appears to be an appropriate tool for the early detection thereof. The differences observed in the spectral response of healthy individuals and patients may also be specific to a particular type/stage of the disease and, thus, may serve as a reliable diagnostic marker. In order to find sufficiently specific and sensitive biomarkers of early stages of degenerative and cancerous diseases, the co-applicant group at the Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (UCT Prague), developed a unique approach for the spectroscopic analysis of blood plasma. Using the highly specialized, structure-sensitive methods of chiroptical spectroscopy (electronic circular dichroism - ECD, Raman optical activity - ROA) combined with conventional infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy, the first pilot studies yielded promising results with respect to the identification of spectral markers for pancreatic cancer, colon cancer and type 1 diabetes mellitus. In addition, metabolomics appears to be a very progressive approach to finding potentially suitable molecules to distinguish between healthy and cancer-affected individuals. Therefore, the investigators believes that this multimodal approach will allow for the identification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In our research, the focus will be on the identification of novel biomarkers in blood plasma that would exhibit sufficient sensitivity and specificity to detect early and potentially curable HCC stages, and that would be potentially useful for routine screening of this disease in well-defined at-risk groups.
Acquired dysfunctional immunity in cirrhosis predisposes patients to frequent bacterial infections contributing to disease progression and may lead to the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most frequent infections in cirrhosis and therefore a trigger for ACLF. ACLF is characterized by systemic inflammation even in the absence of confirmed infection and associated with poor outcome. The source of ascites infection, especially in case of culture-positive SBP and bacterascites, is suspected to be bacterial translocation from gut. In decompensated cirrhosis, data on the gut microbial translocation in different circulatory compartments is limited. Moreover, the link between gut microbiome and systemic inflammation in liver disease has still not established. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is applied to treat portal hypertension which frequently leads to intestinal bleeding, life-threatening esophageal bleeding and ascites. Under the procedure of TIPS, the vein blood samples in different compartments (superior mesenteric vein, portal vein and hepatic vein) from patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis are available. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a promise approach for the diagnosis of infectious disease because a comprehensive spectrum of potential causes (viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic) can be identified by a single assay. Previous study reported that mNGS of cerebrospinal fluid can be applied to diagnosis of meningitis and encephalitis. Comparing to traditional bacterial culture method, mNGS method is more sensitive and rapidly in pathogen detection. Therefore, the circulating microbiome in different compartment can be characterized by means of mNGS. Here, the study aim to investigate the circulating microbiome from superior mesenteric vein (first venous outflow in gut-liver axis), hepatic vein (liver outflow), peripheral vein and ascites from patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis receiving TIPS. Before TIPS, fecal sample and unary sample are collected. And mNGS method is performed to identify the pathogen in ascites,fecal and blood samples in a single center. Ultimately, the study aim to build up the link between gut microbiome translocation and liver disease.
Liver cirrhosis is the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in patients with digestive disease. There are many gaps in care which contribute to a high rate of hospital readmissions (44 percent at 90 days) and inadequate quality of care. Currently, there is a lack of structured processes to initiate best practice support for medical and broader health needs of high risk patients. The cirrhosis care Alberta program (CCAB) is a 3 year multi-component quality improvement initiative which will aim to improve quality of care, reduce acute care utilization and be satisfactory to both patients and providers. Best practice support will be provided in the areas of: Evidence based management of cirrhosis, alcohol use support, frailty, advance care planning, home-hospital-home transitions including standardized outpatient monitoring and structured urgent access for rapid, on-demand outpatient assessment.
A total of 130 patients with liver cirrhosis who fulfill the criteria of the study, and who have been found to have left ventricular diastolic dysfunction on a screening 2D echocardiography, will then be randomized by Block randomization technique, to two arms in a ratio 1:1(Group A) will receive carvedilol+ Ivabradine targeted therapy for heart rate reduction while Group B will receive Carvedilol alone; and the dosage of drug in the treatment arm will be titrated every week to achieve target heart rate of 50-60/ minute. Patients in the treatment arms, who are unable to tolerate carvedilol due to hypotension episodes, will be offered ivabradine alone to allow achievement of targeted heart rate reduction. All patients will be evaluated at 0,6, and 12 months. The end points will be clinical events, cardiac function improvement, renal function, and mortality.
This study attempts to clarify the pathophysiology of haemostasis in relation to the evidence of sepsis in liver disease, and compares the accuracy of various available laboratory tests in assessment of these patients. Further research is needed for proper understanding of the influence of sepsis on coagulation disorders in acute variceal bleeding in cirrhosis, to correctly identify the type and optimal quantity of blood product requirement in at risk patients. Thromboelastography (TEG) /Sonoclot has been proposed as a superior tool to rapidly diagnose and help guide resuscitation with blood products. Secondly, the study of derangement in coagulopathy after the onset of sepsis is of paramount importance because of increased mortality after the onset of sepsis. In the present study, patients with cirrhosis who present with acute variceal bleeding, will be included in the study cohort, and will undergo a baseline diagnostic workup as described. They will be followed for development of any signs of infection after hospitalization. Then the effect of sepsis on their coagulation and thrombin generation response swill be assessed. Thus the effect of sepsis on the progression and outcome of coagulopathy in patients with acute variceal bleeding will be studied.
Rationale: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major and common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. HE can be classified in the extensive range of neurocognitive deterioration as minimal HE (MHE), covert HE (grade I), or overt HE (OHE, grade II-IV). Liver cirrhosis is the most common cause of portal hypertension (PH). Patients who develop complications of PH, like variceal bleeding or refractory ascites, can benefit from a Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) placement. Unfortunately, post-TIPS HE is a common and often severe complication. Incidence of new onset or worsening of HE after TIPS is approximately 20-45%. Currently there is no strategy to prevent post-TIPS HE.
Variceal hemorrhage (VH) from gastric varices (GVs) results in significant morbidity and mortality among patients with liver cirrhosis. In cases of acute bleeding, refractory bleeding, or high risk GVs, the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation and transvenous variceal obliteration procedures have used to treat GVs. While these techniques are effective, each is associated with limitations, including non-trivial rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy rates for TIPS and aggravation of esophageal varices, development of new or worsening ascites, and formation of difficult to treat ectopic varices for transvenous obliteration. Increasingly, however, TIPS and transvenous obliteration are viewed as complimentary procedures that can be combined to reduce bleeding risk and ameliorate sequelae of portal hypertension. Yet, despite a strong mechanistic basis for their combination, there are few studies investigating the combined effectiveness of TIPS plus transvenous obliteration. Thus, the aim of this single center prospective pilot study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of combined TIPS creation plus transvenous obliteration for the treatment of GVs, with the overall goal of improving the clinical outcomes of patients with VH related to GVs. The work proposed could lead to important advances in the treatment of bleeding complications due to liver cirrhosis.
ALTA is a multicenter consortium focused on the management of portal hypertension. ALTA TIPS is a longitudinal observational study of patients who are undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. ALTA will create a database that will provide clinical parameters and outcomes of patients undergoing TIPS as part of their standard of care in hopes of answering key clinical questions.
Sarcopenia is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality in the cirrhotic patient. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate (HMB) is a leucine metabolite with potential efficacy in increasing protein synthesis, muscle mass, and its functionality. The aim of this randomized controlled study is to evaluate the effect of nutritional supplementation with HMB and physical activity both on muscle mass and on muscle function in cirrhotic patients.
Liver Diseases in pregnancy represents rare disorders and current data is derived primarily from single centres and retrospective cohorts. Moreover, the population prevalence of these diseases is low and to-date, it has proven difficult to generate reliable data at a patient level. This is a multi-center, prospective cohort study that will open at 3 centers within the UK; and 4 centers in the European Union. The investigators will aim to collect data and blood samples at various time points, for patients presenting with liver disease during pregnancy. The main rationale behind this study is to establish a platform that enables detailed review of the outcomes of these rare diseases; to help classify and stratify patients according to risk and develop interventional studies and care pathways to improve overall outcome.