Clinical Research Directory

Appropriate Management of Hepatic EncePhalopaThy AmonG cirrhOtic patieNts Admitted to Internal Medicine

Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis are mostly managed in Internal Medicine outpatient clinics and wards; among these patients, overt hepatic encephalopathy represents one of the most frequent causes of emergency hospital admission. Furthermore, hospitalizations for decompensated cirrhosis are expected to increase steadily, given the progressive rise in chronic liver diseases of metabolic and alcohol-related origin. Therefore, the skills of the Internal Medicine physician must increasingly include screening for minimal hepatic encephalopathy, identification and treatment of overt hepatic encephalopathy, and prevention of relapses. In view of the lack of data from prospective studies on the incidence, management, and outcomes of hepatic encephalopathy in patients admitted to Internal Medicine wards in Italy, it is considered important to collect and analyze a large case series in order to identify critical issues in management during hospitalization and at discharge, also with the aim of preventing rehospitalizations. On this basis, Fondazione FADOI has decided to promote the FADOI-HEPTAGON study, a prospective, multicenter, observational study involving approximately 45 Internal Medicine Units across Italy, which will competitively enroll at least 400 consecutive inpatient cases of liver cirrhosis over a one-year period, collecting data on management, treatment, and clinical outcomes during the acute phase and at 3 and 9 months after discharge (follow-up). Among these subjects, patients with hepatic encephalopathy will also be identified in order to assess its incidence.

Effect of Malnutrition on Liver and Spleen Stiffness in Children

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the effect of malnutrition on liver and spleen stiffness in children using shear wave elastography. Two groups of participants will be enrolled: children diagnosed with malnutrition and age-matched healthy controls. Organ stiffness measurements will be compared between the two groups to assess the impact of malnutrition on liver and spleen tissue properties.

Multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Precise Diagnosis and Quantitative Study of Liver Steatosis, Inflammation, and Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease.

To construct a novel, non-invasive, accurate, and convenient method to achieve the degree of liver damage is an important general problem in the management of patients with chronic liver disease. The investigators would like to develop non invasive advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques (MR elastography, MRI-PDFF) to assess the degree of liver damage in patients with chronic liver disease. These techniques could reach high diagnostic performance for detection of liver fibrosis, inflammation and liver fat content; and could decrease the number of liver biopsies, which have risks and sample only a small portion of the liver.