Clinical Research Directory

Evaluating Novel Scoring Systems to Predict Outcomes in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a serious condition where a patient with long-term liver disease suddenly experiences severe liver worsening and failure of other organ systems, such as the kidneys or lungs. ACLF is associated with a high risk of short-term death, making early and accurate prediction of patient outcomes essential for guiding medical decisions. Conventional scoring systems, such as the Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) scores, are widely used to assess liver disease severity. However, these traditional models may not fully capture the intense systemic inflammation and multiorgan failure characteristic of ACLF. Recently, novel prognostic scoring models, specifically the CLIF-C ACLF-D score and the MELD-complication score, have been developed to better predict patient outcomes by integrating markers of inflammation, organ dysfunction, and clinical complications. This study aims to evaluate and validate the clinical usefulness of these novel scoring models compared to conventional scores in predicting in-hospital and 28-day mortality among patients admitted with ACLF. Participants enrolled in this prospective observational study will be recruited from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department at Al-Rajhi University Hospital. Upon admission, participants will undergo routine clinical examinations, laboratory testing, and imaging. The various risk scores will be calculated at baseline. Participants will be monitored throughout their hospital stay, and their survival status will be followed for 28 days after admission to compare the accuracy of each scoring system.

A Novel Extracorporeal Liver Support Therapy In ALCF and to Evaluate the Efficacy of DIALIVE 2.0, a Liver Dialysis Device.

This study is intended to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the DIALIVE Liver Dialysis Device when incorporated into the standard management plan for participants with A-TANGO ACLF grade 2-4. A total of 72 evaluable participants, aged 18-70, will be enrolled in up to 12 clinical centres in the United Kingdom. Participants must have a history of liver cirrhosis and a deterioration within four weeks due to a precipitating event, leading to A-TANGO ACLF grade 2-4. Multicenter, individually randomised, controlled, open-label, parallel group trial using double-arm design. The control group will receive SoC for participants with ACLF. The DIALIVE 2.0 treatment group will receive SoC with the addition of up to 7 (seven) daily DIALIVE 2.0 treatment sessions within the 10-day treatment window. Seventy-two participants with ACLF (60% A-TANGO ACLF grade 2 at randomisation, and 40% A-TANGO ACLF grade 3 \& 4 at randomisation) will be randomised 1:1 to receive either SoC or SoC + DIALIVE 2.0. This allows for 5% loss due to drop-out, and 5% censoring due to liver transplantation within 28 days. All randomised participants will be included in the intention to treat (ITT) analysis while all participants that receive at least one treatment cycle will be used for the safety population. For each participant, the study duration will be up to 105 days (screening: 5 days; treatment up to 10 days; follow up 90 days). The total study duration is estimated to be approximately 18 months from screening of first participant until study completion of the last participant.

Vitamin C for Acute Kidney Injury in ACLF With Septic Shock: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is testing whether Vitamin C can help improve kidney function and survival in very sick patients with liver disease. Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) often develop serious infections that can lead to septic shock and kidney injury, which are major causes of death. In this randomized controlled trial, patients with ACLF and septic shock will be assigned to receive either: 1. Standard medical treatment alone, or 2. Standard medical treatment plus intravenous Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a safe, inexpensive antioxidant that may reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and protect the kidneys. The study will compare how well patients recover from septic shock and kidney injury in the two groups. Blood and urine samples will also be collected to look for biological markers that can predict outcomes.

Double Plasma Separation and Adsorption in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (DPMAS-ACLF Trial)

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a serious condition in which patients with chronic liver disease suddenly develop severe liver injury, leading to inflammation, organ failure, and very high short-term mortality. Standard medical treatment can help, but many patients still do poorly without liver transplantation. This study will test whether Double Plasma Molecular Adsorption System (DPMAS), an extracorporeal blood purification therapy, can improve outcomes in ACLF patients. DPMAS works by filtering the blood through special adsorption columns that remove harmful substances such as bile acids, toxins, and inflammatory molecules. In this randomized controlled trial, adult patients with ACLF will be randomly assigned to receive either: Standard medical therapy alone, or Standard medical therapy plus DPMAS. The main goal is to see whether DPMAS can improve liver function and reduce disease severity within 14 days. Other outcomes include survival without liver transplant at 28 days, improvement in organ functions, reduction in inflammation, and safety of the procedure. The study will be conducted at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi, India, and will enroll about 56 participants over one year.

PT-MSCs Exosome Injection in the Treatment of Chronic-to-acute Liver Failure

The goal of this single-center, prospective, randomized controlled study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PT-MSCs Exosome Injection (code: PT-MSCs-EVS-2023-1) in treating patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). As an exploratory study with a small sample size, the primary focus is to observe safety outcomes and preliminary efficacy. The study will enroll patients aged 18 to 65 years who meet the diagnostic criteria for acute-on-chronic liver failure as outlined in the 2024 Chinese Liver Failure Clinical Guidelines and have a COSSH-ACLF II score of less than 7.4. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does the combined therapy improve the 12-week survival rate compared to standard treatment alone? What is the safety profile of the PT-MSCs Exosome Injection (incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events)? Does the treatment improve clinical symptoms (such as fatigue, anorexia, and jaundice) and biochemical markers (liver function, coagulation, inflammation)? Does the treatment improve the 4-week survival rate and reduce the incidence of adverse outcomes (death, treatment abandonment, or liver transplantation)? Participants will be recruited and screened to ensure eligibility. A total of 20 eligible participants will be randomly allocated into one of two groups in a 1:1 ratio using block randomization: Control Group (10 patients): Participants will receive standard comprehensive internal medical treatment, including antiviral therapy, hepatoprotective drugs, and symptomatic support. Artificial liver support or liver transplantation may be performed based on the investigator's clinical judgment. Study Group (10 patients): In addition to the standard treatment received by the control group, participants will receive PT-MSCs Exosomes (2×10\^11 particles per dose). For the Study Group, the exosome injection is diluted in 100 mL of normal saline and administered via intravenous infusion over a period of not less than 2 hours. Treatment is administered once every 3 days (on Day 1, Day 4, Day 7, and Day 10) for a total of 4 doses. All participants will undergo follow-up assessments at specific intervals (Days 4, 7, 10, 13, 28, and 84) to monitor survival, clinical improvement, and safety signals.