Search Results within category "Digestive Health & Liver Disease"
Search all categoriesSuggestions within category "Digestive Health & Liver Disease"
Cirrhosis
Crohn's Disease
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Hepatitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
1
Study Matches
Development of 4D Flow MRI for Risk Stratification of Variceal Bleeding in Cirrhosis
The goal of this research is to validate novel non-invasive Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
biomarkers to detect Gastroesophageal varices (GEV) in patients with cirrhosis, including
fractional flow change in the portal vein and elevated azygos flow.
End-stage liver disease (cirrhosis) is characterized by advanced fibrosis, liver failure, and
portal hypertension. There are many causes of cirrhosis, including viral hepatitis, alcohol
abuse, and perhaps most importantly, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its
aggressive subset, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). 3 million new cases of end-stage
liver disease (cirrhosis) are expected over the next decade. In cirrhosis, portosystemic
collaterals that shunt blood away from the liver develop due to increased portal pressure.
Gastroesophageal varices (GEV) are the most clinically relevant because they can cause fatal
internal bleeding. GEV bleeding carries ~20% mortality at 6 weeks, and ~34% overall
mortality. Identification of at-risk varices, prior to bleeding, is of paramount importance
to initiate primary prophylaxis. To identify and treat at-risk patients, current guidelines
recommend regular esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and variceal band ligation. Detection of
high-risk GEV is key to initiating primary prophylaxis, which can reduce mortality by 50-70%.
However, endoscopy is invasive and often unnecessary when no treatment is required.
Therefore, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases has identified the
development of "non-invasive markers that predict the presence of high-risk varices" as a
major unmet need.
Scott Reeder, MD, PhD
All
18 Years and over
Pilot
NCT04867954
Cirrhosis, Liver, Gastroesophageal Varices, Healthy Volunteers, Liver disease unspecified, Other, Digestive Health & Liver Disease