Clinical trials

Research project in which biological material is sampled and health-related personal data is further used and collected. Coded data are used.

Research project in which biological material is sampled and health-related personal data is further used and collected. Coded data are used.

HBV infection is a global public health problem. It is estimated that there are more than 250 million HBV carriers worldwide, of whom approximately 600,000 die each year from HBV-related liver disease. Diagnosis and treatment depend on the stage of infection, the degree of liver inflammation, and the progression of fibrosis. Patients with HBeAg-positive or -negative hepatitis are usually treated with nucleos(-t)ide analogues. This treatment inhibits HBV reverse transcriptase and reduces viral replication, but does not affect HBsAg production. Treatment must be continued for life in most cases and is associated with high cumulative costs and the risk of development of resistance. Recently, it has been shown that patients who show a decrease in their HBsAg levels are more likely to become HBsAg negative, seroconvert and be able to stop antiviral treatment, which is the ultimate goal of treatment, but unfortunately rarely achieved. Methylene blue (MB) has been shown to have an effect on HBsAg levels in vitro, making it a promising test for a new treatment for HBV. This is an explorative pilot study, open label, dose-escalation, single center clinical trial on the efficacy of MB against HBV infection. Primary objective is to assess the efficacy of incremental doses of MB against hepatitis B virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B assessed by the reduction of both the HBsAg and HBV DNA levels after 6 months of treatment and 6 months of follow-up. Participant will be treated for 6 months with MB 100 mg capsules, and then followed up for a further 6 months. The initial dose of MB might be increased if the patient is a non-responder.

Research project in which biological material is sampled and health-related medical data is collected. In addition, already existing health-related medical data are used for further research. Coded data are used.

The goal of this observational study is to establish a unified cohort for retrospective and prospective high quality baseline and follow-up data registration of patients with a diagnosis of NAFLD/NASH/MAFLD, according to standardized criteria. This will allow future studies aimed at elucidate clinical presentation, natural history, response to treatment, genetic and metabolic risk factors, treatment options and outcomes of the disease. The cohort will allow investigators to carry out genetic, serological, microbiologic and immunological studies.