Natural History of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age12-100
SponsorNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

About this trial

Background:

\- Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH) is caused by liver diseases that increase pressure in the blood vessels of the liver. It seems to start slowly and not have many warning signs. Many people may not even know that they have a liver disease. There are no specific treatments for NCPH.

Objectives:

\- To learn more about how NCPH develops over time.

Eligibility:

\- People age 12 and older who have NCPH or are at risk for getting it. In the past year, they cannot have had other types of liver disease that typically result in cirrhosis, liver cancer, or active substance abuse.

Design:

* Participants will have 2 screening visits. * Visit 1: to see if they have or may develop NCPH. * Medical history * Physical exam * Urine and stool studies * Abdominal ultrasound * Fibroscan. Sound waves measure liver stiffness.

\<TAB\>- Visit 2:

* Blood tests * Abdominal MRI * Echocardiogram * Questionnaire * Liver blood vessel pressure (hepatic venous portal gradient (HVPG)) measurement. This is done with a small tube inserted in a neck vein. * They may have a liver biopsy. * All participants will visit the clinic every 6 months for a history, physical exam, and blood tests. They will also repeat some of the screening tests yearly. * Participants with NCPH will also have: * Upper endoscopy test. A tube inserted in the mouth goes through the esophagus and stomach. * At least every 2 years: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy. * At least every 4 years: testing including HVPG measurements and liver biopsy. * Participants without NCPH will also have: * Liver biopsy and HVPG measurements to see if they have NCPH. * Every 2 years: abdominal MRI and stool studies. * The study will last indefinitely.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Male or female, aged >= 18 years of age, and minors 12-17 years of age.

Women of childbearing potential must agree to use birth control unless they are menopausal or had hysterectomy.

Known diagnosis of NCPH, or to be at the risk for NCPH by virtue of underlying disease processes such as but not limited to; CGD, SCD, Mastocytosis, CVID, CF, and CHF.

Disqualifiers

Pregnancy.

Evidence of other forms of liver disease that typically result in cirrhosis.

Evidence of active Chronic Hepatitis B infection as defined by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum and elevated HBV DNA (>10,000 IU/mL).

Hepatitis C as defined by the presence of hepatitis C RNA in serum.

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Not listed

Trial groups

400 Participants
are grouped into 4 trial groups