Clinical Research Directory

TReatment for ImmUne Mediated PathopHysiology

TReatment for ImmUne Mediated PathopHysiology (TRIUMPH) is a multi-center, three arm, randomized, controlled trial of immunosuppressive therapy for children with acute liver failure. The study will determine if suppressing inflammatory responses with either corticosteroids or equine anti-thymocyte globulin therapy improves survival for children with this rare, life-threatening condition.

ALSS - DPMAS and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE), Its Effect on Primary Coagulation, Inflammation and the Function of Vital Organs in ALF or ACLF

The artificial liver support system (ALSS) in patients with acute on chronic liver failure - the use of combined molecular adsorption system with double plasma (DPMAS) and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), its effect on primary coagulation, inflammation and the function of vital organs.

Standard Volume vs. High Volume Plasma Exchange in Pediatric Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure is a multisystem disorder characterized by a syndrome of jaundice, coagulopathy, and encephalopathy with high mortality in the absence of liver transplantation. The pathogenesis of multiorgan failure (MOF) in ALF has been attributed to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from injured hepatic cells and microbial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in the presence of superimposed infection or bacterial translocation.The innate immune cells activated by PAMPs and DAMPs produce pro-inflammatory cytokines \[interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1b, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a)\]. Studies indicate that the removal of inflammatory mediators appears to play a role in the treatment of ALF and are removed by some apheresis techniques. Hence therapeutic exchange (TPE) has been used as adjunct or standalone therapy for bridging patients to recovery or LT. TPE to treat liver failure involves two steps-removal of plasma from a patient with liver failure and replacing this with equal volume of fluid; in view of the coagulopathy seen in liver failure patients, the preferred fluid for replacement is fresh frozen plasma. Different doses of PLEX have been used to treat liver failure patients with high, standard or low volume PLEX, to treat ALF. Presently American Apheresis Society guidelines consider High Volume TPE (HV-TPE) as first line the management of ALF. But HV-TPE, apart from strain on blood bank resources (large volumes of fresh frozen plasma needed), also carries risk of transfusion associated acute lung complications, risk of blood borne virus infection, and so on make the use of low-volume PLEX attractive compared to high-volume PLEX. Hence this study is being carried out to consider the safety and efficacy of standard volume plasma exchange (SV-TPE) vs. HV-TPE in Pediatric ALF.

Safety and Tolerability of Hepatocyte-like Cell Therapy for Liver Failure and Small-for-Size Syndrome

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of intramuscular injection of hepatocyte-like cells into the rectus sheath in patients with liver failure (including acute liver failure, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and chronic liver failure) and small-for-size syndrome, with the ultimate goal of improving survival rates.

F573 for Injection for the Treatment of Liver Injury/Failure

This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled PhaseⅡ clinical trial . The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of F573 for injection in patients with liver injury (drug-induced liver injury (DILI), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), intrahepatic cholestatic liver injury, etc.).

High-volume Versus Standard Volume Plasma Exchange in Patients With Acute Liver Failure With Cerebral Edema

In this prospective randomized controlled trial Investigator aim to evaluate the impact of high versus standard volume plasma-exchange in patients with acute liver failure with cerebral edema and clinical outcomes. ALF who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria within the first 12 hours will be randomized into two groups Interventional - High-volume plasma exchange Active Comparator - Standard volume plasma exchange Expected outcome of the project-. 1. Primary end points: Time to improvement in cerebral edema 2. Secondary end points: To study the adverse events of therapy (volume overload, pulmonary complications, allergic reactions) etc. Transplant-free survival at day 21

CytOSorb TreatMent Of Critically Ill PatientS Registry

Registry intended to provide a data repository and reporting infrastructure for the surveillance of CytoSorb device use in real-world critical care settings, and to serve as an objective, comprehensive, and scientifically-based resource to measure and improve the quality of patient care

Transcriptional Analysis of Mechanisms in Liver Failure and Sepsis

Context Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening condition that occurs on the background of a healthy liver. The most common cause of acute liver failure in the UK is paracetamol overdose. Acute liver failure results from liver damage and activation of the body's inflammatory defences with subsequent damage to other organs including kidneys, lungs and heart. This often requires life support in an intensive care unit before liver transplantation (LT), the only currently available and effective rescue treatment for acute liver failure. Challenge Patient factors and organ availability limit who can benefit from liver transplant. At present there are no effective alternative therapies for patients who do not get a liver transplant, and survival rates in these situations are poor. The underlying mechanisms of inflammation are poorly understood, thus therapies are limited. Aim The investigators research aims to understand the mechanisms that underpin the inflammation seen in acute liver failure by studying the inflammatory cells in the blood and examining their cellular programmes. This will allow the investigators to identify pathways that are activated and understand how the liver and blood interact to spread inflammation around the body. The investigators aim to identify targets for disease-modifying therapies to avert the need for liver transplant. Importance Understanding how the body responds to acute liver failure, and whether there are different patterns of inflammatory response, will enable trials of immune-modulating drugs to prevent the need for liver transplantation or prolong the time a patient can wait for an organ. This has the potential to help improve organ availability for other patients and save lives in acute liver failure.

Biomarkers in Liver Failure

Acute liver injury (ALI) and acute liver failure (ALF) are rare clinical conditions, the latter often associated with a poor outcome. To improve outcomes for these patients, clinicians need to develop a clearer understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition. Biomarkers and novel imaging techniques are vital to investigating and understanding the pathophysiology of ALI. Patients with ALI or ALF aged over 16 and due to any cause will be eligible to take part in the study. The study will involve collection of biological samples (blood, urine, stool and breath) from included patients once daily for up to 7 days. For patients undergoing liver transplantation, a small sample of explanted (removed) liver tissue will be obtained. A small subgroup of patients with paracetamol induced acute liver failure will be eligible to be included in a pilot MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) study, which will involve two MRI scans during the first 7 days of their admission. All patients will be recruited from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Intensity in Hyperammonemia

Acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) are life-threatening conditions often associated with hyperammonemia, hepatic encephalopathy, and multi-organ dysfunction. Ammonia plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cerebral edema and neurotoxicity. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has been shown to effectively reduce serum ammonia levels and may improve transplant-free survival in ALF. However, the optimal dialysis dose for ammonia clearance and neurological recovery remains uncertain. This randomized, multicenter clinical trial aims to compare conventional-dose (25-35 mL/kg/h) versus high-dose (45-55 mL/kg/h) CRRT in patients with ALF or ACLF and arterial ammonia \>72 μmol/L. The primary outcome is the number of coma- and delirium-free days. Secondary outcomes include ammonia clearance and additional parameters of cerebral function monitoring.

Clinical Study of Pediatric Acute Liver Failure

The goal of this observational study is to understand the etiology, prognosis and influencing factors of acute liver failure in children, evaluate the predictive value of children's SOFA score, PELD score and LIU score for the short-term mortality rate of children's liver failure and the infection of children's acute liver failure; analyze the bleeding and kidney damage of children's acute liver failure, and evaluate the quality of life of children's acute liver failure.

Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Non-Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious condition in which the liver suddenly stops working, often leading to life-threatening complications. While N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely used to treat ALF caused by acetaminophen overdose, its benefits in ALF due to other causes, such as viral infections or drug reactions, remain uncertain. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate whether NAC can improve survival rates and reduce hospital stays in patients with non-acetaminophen-induced ALF. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either NAC along with standard supportive care or standard supportive care alone. The study will measure survival rates, hospital stay duration, and improvement in liver function tests. By exploring NAC's potential benefits beyond acetaminophen-related cases, this research aims to provide evidence-based guidance on how to better manage patients with ALF from other causes.

Etiology and Prognostic Analysis of Acute Liver Failure in Chinese Children

Research Background: Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) refers to the sudden onset of severe liver injury in children without known chronic liver disease, leading to multi-system organ dysfunction, with a mortality rate as high as 50%-70%. The etiology of PALF is complex and varied, including infections, metabolic disorders, and toxins. In developed countries, it is often caused by drug and toxin exposure, while in developing countries, viral infections are the primary cause. Additionally, 30%-50% of PALF cases have an unknown etiology, which increases the difficulty of treatment. Current treatment options include medical management, artificial liver support, and liver transplantation. Liver transplantation is the only proven effective treatment, but issues such as organ shortages and the timing of transplantation affect treatment outcomes. Improving diagnostic capabilities for the etiology and exploring optimal treatment strategies are of significant importance in enhancing the clinical success rate of PALF management. Research Objective: To explore the etiology and prognostic factors of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF), analyze the relationship between different causes of PALF and prognosis, and the relationship between different treatment modalities and prognosis. This study aims to investigate the correlation between etiology, treatment methods, and outcomes, providing scientific evidence to improve the precision in diagnosis and treatment of PALF and to enhance decision-making and timing judgments for liver transplantation.

Daily Versus Alternate Day Plasma Exchange in Wilson Disease With Acute Liver Failure in Children

Wilson disease in children has a varied presentation. Wilson disease with acute liver failure is associated with very high mortality and morbidity. The standard therapy i.e chelation (with either D- penicillamine or trientene can be used as a temporizing agent to treat the enormous release of copper into the blood stream; however, substantial removal is not achieved for at least 1 to 3 months. Plasma exchange provides a means of rapid means of removal of copper. As per American Society for Apheresis, TPE in wilson disease with acute liver failure can rapidly remove an average of 20 mg of copper per TPE treatment. Decreased serum copper may decrease hemolysis, prevent progression of kidney failure and provide clinical stabilization. TPE can also remove large molecular weight toxins (aromatic amino acids, ammonia, endotoxins) and other factors, which may be responsible for hepatic coma. The frequency of said TPE is not defined as most evidence is based on case reports and case series. Copper is highly protein bound and the volume of distribution for copper is large. Under normal conditions, 90-95% of serum copper is ceruloplasmin-bound with the remaining 5-10% being nonceruloplasmin-bound. TPE efficiently removes both ceruloplasmin- and albumin-bound copper. FFP used for exchange can be helpful in treating the associated coagulopathy. TPE has been used as a bridge to liver transplantation as well as seen to improve survival with native liver, the optimum protocol for same remains uncertain.

Evaluation of Cardiac Function in Acutely Decompensated Cirrhosis

This project aims to investigate cardiac function in patients with cirrhosis in the acute setting. Acute decompensation and acute-on-chronic liver failure are major events in the life of a patient as they herald disease progression and negative prognosis. Cardiocirculatory function will be assessed by serial assessments in patients admitted for acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

Hepatocyte Microbeads for Acute Liver Failure

Acute Liver Failure in children is associated with high mortality without liver transplantation. In addition, donor organ shortage makes it difficult to provide this treatment to every potential patient. Liver transplantation is life-saving but it carries the risk of major surgery and complications from lifelong anti-rejection drugs to suppress the immune system. If bridged across the immediate crisis following acute liver failure, the immense regenerative potential of the liver means that the patient's own liver may 're-grow'. This period is very time sensitive. Unfortunately, if the vital synthetic and detoxification function of the liver is not provided, the patient will often die before the liver can re-grow. Transplantation of liver cells (hepatocytes) can provide this 'bridge' with considerable advantages over whole organ transplantation. Firstly, hepatocytes are derived from donor livers which are otherwise unsuitable for transplantation. Secondly, unlike whole organs, they can be frozen and stored, thus act as an 'off the shelf' treatment. Thirdly, the technique of hepatocyte transplantation within microbeads coated with alginate (a gel originating from seaweed) and infused into the abdominal cavity is much less invasive than liver transplantation. Finally, the alginate protects the cells against the body's immune system, avoiding the need for immunosuppressive drugs and the associated major risks. Furthermore, preclinical work in King's College Hospital has shown that the addition of support cells called mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), can significantly improve the ability of hepatocytes to survive and function within the alginate microbead. The HELP trial is a Phase 1/2 safety and tolerability study of infusion of HMB002 (an optimal combination of hepatocytes and mesenchymal stromal cells put together in peptide-alginate microbeads) into paediatric patients with acute liver failure. This novel cellular therapy may act as a bridge treatment to liver transplant or lead to regeneration of the native liver.