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75 active trials for Cirrhosis

Study of microRNAs in a Decompensated Cirrhosis

Cirrhotic patients are at higher risk of sepsis due to impaired innate and adaptive immune responses. Septic complications represent a major issue in the management of cirrhotic patients, with a 1-month mortality rate of 23%, which increases to 80% at 3 months in case of associated organ failure. Delay to treatment initiation during a septic episode may increase the risk of complications and mortality of cirrhotic patients. However, the inappropriate use of antibiotics exposes cirrhotic patients to the risk of more severe infections due to multi-resistant organisms or fungi. The use of diagnostic markers for sepsis is limited in the context of cirrhosis because of the lack of hepatic synthesis of these markers on the one hand and non-specific inflammation related to cirrhosis on the other hand. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new tools for the early diagnosis of sepsis and appropriate management of cirrhotic patients. The interest of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the diagnosis and prognosis of septic shock has been reported in the general population. No studies have described circulating miRNAs or reported their interest in the diagnosis of sepsis in a population of cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation (AD). This preliminary study of 800 circulating miRNAs will be performed in a cohort of patients with acute cirrhosis decompensation, for whom the incidence of sepsis is estimated at 40%. The aim to evaluate the interest and feasibility of a larger study on the interest of circulating miRNAs in the early diagnosis of sepsis in cirrhotic patients. The long-term objective of this study is the development of biomarkers for the early management of cirrhotic patients with sepsis and the rationalization of antibiotic use to improve their prognosis.

Start: June 2019
MRI to Assess the Effect of Terlipressin in Patients With Acute Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS-AKI)

HRS is divided into two types. A chronic kidney failure (HRS-2), which is predominantly related to end-stage disease and a more acute kidney failure (HRS-AKI). HRS-AKI is potentially reversible and develops subsequent to aggravation of a systemic circulatory vasodilatation, that triggers renal vasoconstriction and deteriorates renal perfusion and function. The albumin and terlipressin response is evaluated clinically, routinely for a week and reduces mortality with 23% compared to no treatment. Only 40-50% of the patients with HRS-AKI respond to the treatment with terlipressin. The treatment of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 (HRS-AKI) is aimed at improving blood flow to the kidneys. Flow changes associated to development of HRS have only sparsely been studied and not previously by MR technique and no previous studies have evaluated changes in flow induced by terlipressin. It has been hypothesized that development of HRS is associated to a deterioration in heart function with development of cardiomyopathy, which together with renal vasoconstriction leads to renal failure. Simultaneous MR-assessments of cardiac function and flows (especially the renal flow) in HRS-AKI have not previously been performed. The aim of the project is to develop new, fast and non-invasive methods to evaluate hemodynamic changes and individual pharmacological terlipressin response in patients with acute hepatorenal syndrome (type HRS-AKI) We expect a higher increase in renal blood flow in terlipressin-responders compared to terlipressin-non-responders and non-responders will generally have a lower basic renal flow and a decreased cardiac output. Study design and patients The study design is experimental and includes 30 cirrhotic patients with HRS-AKI. Patients with HRS-AKI are MR scanned before and 17 minutes after their first dose of terlipressin. ECHO is performed before first dose of Terlipressin and is repeated after one of the first doses of terlipressin. Clinically efficacy is defined in accordance to international guidelines at day-7 and 90 days mortality is registered. The screening period and treatments follow international and national guidelines for acute renal failure in patients with cirrhosis.

Start: January 2018
EYE-Mobile TRACKer IN the Diagnosis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) corresponds to the neurological or the neuropsychological symptoms caused by an acute or chronic liver disease and/or porto-systemic shunt. Many patients present neurological symptoms even if their liver disease is stabilized. Furthermore, HE is associated with an altered quality of life and an increased mortality. Its incidence is high with 30 to 80% of cirrhotic patients that will display according to retained diagnostic criteria. HE symptoms are going from subtle neuropsychological abnormalities detected only on neuropsychological testing, minimal HE, to altered consciousness, overt HE. Recently, the therapeutic armamentarium has increased with now several drugs (rifaximin, ammonia lowering agents) that are able to prevent new bouts of HE. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of minimal HE is difficult and no gold-standard is available. None of the proposed test is rapid and easily performed at bedside. Recently, different studies suggest the potential interest of the study of the ocular movements in HE. Abnormalities in ocular saccades could be an early predictor of cortical impairment. In a pilot feasibility study using an eye-tracker, we could show that cirrhotic patients with minimal HE had, compared to healthy controls, increased latencies, decreased speed of voluntary and reflex saccades, more errors in anti-saccades, more anticipations saccades and more difficulties to fix the target. Our hypothesis was that the use of the eye-tracker will enable the diagnosis of minimal HE by studying the characteristics of saccades and anti-saccades. Since no gold-standard is available for the diagnosis of minimal HE, we will use the conclusion of an adjudication committee formed by 2 experts. Their clinical judgment will take into account the results of medical history, clinical examination, neuropsychological testing, PHES, Critical Flicker Frequency test (CFF), ammonemia levels, EEG and brain MRI with spectroscopy.

Start: January 2021
Angiotensin 2 for Hepatorenal Syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a disease in which patients with cirrhosis (end stage liver failure) develop secondary kidney injury and failure. The current treatment available in the United States is a combination of octreotide and midodrine, which are meant to decrease the release of those hormones and raise the blood pressure, respectively, which would increase blood flow to the kidneys. Angiotensin 2 (Ang2) is a new vasopressor drug that was approved by the FDA in December 2017 for patients with low blood pressure and has been shown to have similar effects to octreotide and midodrine. This study will investigate whether Ang2 reverses HRS among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Our study population will be patients with HRS who are already or will be admitted to the ICU. HRS will be defined by new internationally accepted guidelines published by the International Club of Ascites. All patients who are consented will undergo an Ang2 response trial, where low-dose Ang2 will be administered for 4 hours to see how the patients respond. This will help us characterize the nature of the patients' kidney failure for later analysis. Patients will then be randomized into the control group or the study group. Patients in the control group will receive octreotide (a subcutaneous injection) and midodrine (an oral drug). Patients in the study group will continue receiving intravenous infusion of Ang2. Patients in both groups will also receive albumin, a protein found commonly in human blood. Treatment will continue in both groups for four days, until complete reversal of HRS, dialysis, or death. Our primary outcome will be rate of reversal of HRS, defined as improvement in kidney function.

Start: July 2021