Clinical Research Directory

Apixaban-PK Trial: Preventing Portal Hypertension Complications in Cirrhosis

The APIXABAN-PK trial is a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apixaban in combination with carvedilol versus placebo with carvedilol in preventing portal hypertension-related complications in patients with cirrhosis. Conducted at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department and Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) of Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan, the trial will enroll eligible cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Participants will be followed for 12 months to monitor hepatic decompensation events, variceal bleeding, portal vein thrombosis, and mortality, while safety and tolerability of apixaban will be closely assessed. This study aims to provide local evidence for apixaban use in cirrhosis management in Pakistan.

Pantoprazole After Prophylactic Endoscopic Variceal Treatment

Traditionally, it is considered that gastric acid delays ulcer healing, and acid suppression can reduce the risk of post-banding ulcer bleeding and promote mucosal healing at the ulcer site. A systematic review and meta-analysis performed by our team demonstrated that acid suppression significantly reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) following prophylactic endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL), but had no significant effect on the incidence of mortality, adverse events, or length of stay. Similarly, another systematic review and meta-analysis performed by Lin et al. indicated that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) significantly reduced the incidence of GIB after therapeutic or prophylactic endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT), and the efficacy of PPI in reducing post-EVT GIB is related to the duration of PPI. However, previous studies have indicated that long-term use of PPI may increase the risk of bacterial infections and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, current guidelines suggest that PPI should be discontinued after EVT, unless the patient has a clear indication for PPI. However, the quality of evidence is poor due to the small sample sizes, predominantly retrospective designs, and inconsistencies in follow-up duration of previous studies. In current clinical practice, most physicians still prefer to use PPI routinely after EVT to prevent post-EVT GIB. Given the ongoing controversy regarding the routine use of PPI after EVT, we plan to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial to to explore the effect of PPI after prophylactic EVT on the incidence of short-term GIB, adverse events, and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and esophagogastric varices (EGV).

The Diagnostic Value of Subharmonic Imaging Technology Combined With Liver Stiffness and Platelet Count for High-risk Esophageal and Gastric Varices in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

To evaluate the diagnostic value of the combined model of subharmonic-assisted pressure estimation (SHAPE), liver stiffness (LSM), and platelet count (PLT) for high-risk esophageal and gastric varices (HRV)

Evaluation of Endoscopic Treatment Effect Based on HVPG

This study aims to evaluate the endoscopic treatment effect and related influencing factors of patients with esophageal and gastric varices based on HVPG. By enrolling and collecting patients with esophageal and gastric varices at different stages of liver cirrhosis, the changes in portal pressure before and during endoscopic treatment were detected. The endoscopic treatment effect of different patients was evaluated by combining the changes in HVPG and the condition of varicose veins, the effects of different endoscopic treatment methods on HVPG were analyzed, and the correlation between HVPG changes and endoscopic efficacy was explored.