Fontan Associated Liver Disease and the Evaluation of Biomarkers for Disease Severity Assessment

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Congenital Heart Disease

In brief

Background: In Fontan Associated Liver Disease (FALD), congestion of blood in the liver causes cirrhosis. This condition can cause death. Researchers want to understand what triggers this process and find new treatments for it. Objective: To understand how long-term congestion of blood in the liver causes liver scarring that eventually leads to cirrhosis. Eligibility: People aged 18 and older who are at risk of developing FALD from the Fontan procedure. Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Liver ultrasound. This uses sound waves to take pictures of the body. Participants will have an outpatient visit within 12 weeks after screening. Within 24 weeks later, they will have a 3-day hospital stay. About 2 weeks later, they will have a follow-up visit. Visits will include repeats of the screening tests and: Heart tests Stool collection Questionnaires MRI of the liver. Participants will lie on a bed that slides in and out of the scanner. They will receive a contrast agent injected into a vein. While in the scanner, they will also have an MRCP to view the bile ducts and the pancreatic duct. Fibroscan exam. This is an ultrasound that uses a special probe to look at the toughness of the liver. Upper endoscopy. This uses a thin scope to look inside the upper digestive tract. Liver biopsy. This will be taken through large vein in the neck or through the chest. Just before the biopsy, participants will have pressure measurements inside their liver. For this, a catheter will be inserted into a neck vein and guided into the liver.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05213598

Run by

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

People needed

100

Starts

2022-09-07

Expected to finish

2051-06-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-31

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 100. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• 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.
• Evidence of other liver disease such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson s disease, autoimmune hepatitis as defined by either liver histology or laboratory abnormalities.
• Hemochromatosis as defined by presence of 3+ or 4+ stainable iron on liver biopsy or homozygosity for C282Y. Patients with iron saturation indices of >45% and serum ferritin levels of >300 ng/ml for men and >250 ng/ml for women will undergo genetic testing for hemochromatosis.
• Bile duct obstruction as suggested by imaging studies done within the previous six months.
• Active substance abuse, such as alcohol, inhaled or injection drugs within the previous one year (assessed during patient interviews or by patient self-report).
• Evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma; either alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels greater than 50 ng/ml (normal <6.6 ng/ml) and/or ultrasound (or other imaging study) demonstrating a mass suggestive of liver cancer.
• Evidence of Cholangiocarcinoma.
• A documented or otherwise stated severe allergic reaction to contrast.
• Any other severe condition, which in the opinion of the investigators would impede the patient s participation or compliance in the study.
• Radiation exposure exceeds 5 rems during the past year.
• Inability to comply or give written informed consent as there is no direct benefit from participation in this study.
• Female subjects who are currently pregnant will be excluded due to radiation exposure necessary for study completion. In addition, altered hemodynamics may confound the study s results. Following pregnancy, patients may be reconsidered for the study.

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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