Clinical Research Directory

Evaluation of the Outcome of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

This study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory phase II clinical trial led by Professor Han Gyeong-ho from the Digestive Disease Hospital of Xi'an International Medical Center. The study enrolled 40 patients who had experienced recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy despite treatment with rifaximin and lactulose. These patients were randomly divided 1:1 into the experimental group and the control group. After obtaining informed consent from the patients, fecal microbiota transplantation or placebo control was performed. The fecal microbiota was sourced from the feces of healthy individuals who had a rich composition of the Muribaculaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Bifidobacteriaceae families and did not contain pathogenic bacteria. The safety and efficacy of the treatment were followed up, and blood and fecal samples were collected for sequencing analysis. The aim was to provide new solutions for patients with hepatic encephalopathy who did not respond to the treatment with rifaximin and lactulose after TIPS surgery; and to explore the impact of microbiota changes and translocation on the recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS surgery.

Clinical Efficacy and Survival Prediction Analysis of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

This study aims to develop a practical tool for identifying cirrhotic patients at high risk of hepatic encephalopathy following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. A retrospective analysis will be conducted on medical records of 624 cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS from 2011 to 2021. Statistical methods will be applied to screen preoperative routine indicators associated with post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy risk. A predictive nomogram will be constructed incorporating the screened indicators to estimate individual preoperative risk. The predictive performance will be compared with conventional clinical scoring systems. This tool is intended to facilitate preoperative risk evaluation and targeted management of high-risk patients undergoing TIPS

DEB-TACE vs cTACE in HCC After TIPS

This is a Phase 3, open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) compared with Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization (cTACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is beyond the Milan criteria and who have previously undergone a Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) procedure. The TIPS procedure is commonly performed to manage complications of portal hypertension, such as variceal bleeding or refractory ascites, in patients with cirrhosis. However, after TIPS, treatment options for HCC-particularly in cases exceeding the Milan criteria-remain limited and not well-defined in current guidelines. While TACE is a standard locoregional therapy for intermediate-stage HCC, its application in patients with a prior TIPS is controversial due to altered hepatic hemodynamics, which may increase the risk of liver toxicity and compromise treatment safety and efficacy. Preliminary retrospective data suggest that DEB-TACE, which uses calibrated drug-eluting microspheres, may offer a safer and more effective alternative to cTACE in this specific patient population by providing more controlled drug delivery and potentially reducing systemic and hepatic toxicity. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether DEB-TACE improves Overall Survival (OS) compared to cTACE in patients with beyond-Milan HCC after TIPS. Secondary objectives include comparing the safety profile, Progression-Free Survival (PFS), Objective Response Rate (ORR), Disease Control Rate (DCR), and Quality of Life (QoL) between the two treatment arms. The study aims to enroll 206 participants who will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either DEB-TACE or cTACE. The trial will include a 24-month recruitment period and a 24-month treatment and follow-up phase, with a total study duration of 48 months. By directly comparing these two TACE approaches in a prospectively defined and randomized setting, this study seeks to provide high-level evidence to guide the optimal locoregional treatment strategy for HCC patients with a history of TIPS placement.

Optimizing Portal Hypertension With TIPS and Interval Metabolic Surgery for Advanced Liver Disease

Cirrhosis is a form of advanced liver disease that can lead to serious complications, especially when combined with severe obesity. Many patients with cirrhosis also develop a condition called clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), which is increased pressure in the veins of the liver. CSPH raises the risk of life-threatening events like internal bleeding and liver failure. Unfortunately, treatment options for people who have both cirrhosis and severe obesity are very limited, especially when portal hypertension is present. This study, called the OPTIMAL Trial, is a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate whether combining two procedures improves health outcomes in this high-risk population. The first procedure, called TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt), is a minimally invasive treatment that reduces pressure in the liver by creating a pathway for blood to flow more easily. The second procedure is sleeve gastrectomy, a form of metabolic (bariatric) surgery that helps patients lose weight and improve related conditions like diabetes. The study will compare two groups: 1. One group will receive TIPS followed by sleeve gastrectomy (TIPS+SG). 2. The other group will receive medical weight management (standard non-surgical care, including diet, lifestyle changes, and weight loss medications). All participants will have severe obesity and cirrhosis with CSPH but will not have decompensated liver disease (such as large amounts of fluid in the abdomen, a history of variceal bleeding, or recent liver failure). Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The main goal of the study is to determine whether the combination of TIPS + SG improves quality of life and leads to greater weight loss compared to medical therapy alone. The study will also monitor for any complications from either the procedures or the medical treatment. Participants will be followed for 6 months after their treatment starts, with periodic assessments of their physical health, liver function, and overall well-being. Some participants may also be followed for a longer period to assess long-term outcomes. This study hopes to provide high-quality evidence for a novel, stepwise treatment strategy that may help people with obesity and liver disease live longer, healthier lives. If successful, it could change how advanced liver disease and obesity are managed together, especially in patients who currently have few safe and effective options. All study care is provided at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

UDCA to Prevent Post-TIPS Hepatic Encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) commonly occurs after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been reported to alleviate neurodegenerative disease recently. This open-label multicenter randomized controlled trial tests whether adding UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) to standard lactulose prophylaxis reduces the incidence of overt HE (OHE; West Haven grade II-IV) after TIPS, compared with lactulose alone. The regimen starts within 72 hours before TIPS and continues for 3 months. The trial aims to evaluate the effect of UDCA in reducing the incidence of post-TIPS OHE.

TIPS for Complicated Portal Hypertension Related to Porto-Sinusoidal Vascular Disease

Porto-sinusoidal Vascular Disease (PSVD) is characterized by a portal hypertension (PH) without cirrhosis. This can induce PH complications, like digestive hemorrhage from esophageal or gastric varices, ascites, or even portal thrombosis. Due to the rarity of MVPS, the treatment of complications of portal hypertension is modeled on the methods used in cirrhotic portal hypertension with non-cardio-selective beta blockers, endoscopic ligations or diuretics in first line therapy, as proposed by the Baveno VII recommendations. In complicated or refractory forms of PH in PSVD, the place of TIPS is also discussed, as in the field of cirrhosis. However, the experience of TIPS in PSVD is limited, reported in case reports and small specifically dedicated series. No predictive factors for survival or recurrence and tolerance were well known. A larger study with control group is needed in order to better know the right time and the right indication for the use of TIPS in complicated PH PSVD-related. The study will be retrospective, multicentric involving tertiary university French centers, expert in the management of TIPS. Patients white TIPS-PSVD will be compared with historical patients with TIPS-cirrhose, matched on age, sexe, indication of TIPS. The study will not comprise new intervention, only observational in a real life condition

Acquisition of Cardiac Function Parameters in MRI and Echocardiography in Patients with Ethyltoxic Liver Cirrhosis and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPSS) Placement

The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate the development of cardiac decompensation following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) implantation in order to draw conclusions for future treatment methods or exclusion criteria prior to TIPS implantation. The main questions to be answered are: How often do symptoms of cardiac decompensation develop over a one year period? What laboratory, clinical or imaging morphological changes are associated with this? In addition to the standardised clinical procedure for TIPSS implantation, participants will undergo 3 cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), extended echocardiographic examinations (both just before, 3 days after and 3 months after implantation) and laboratory chemistry tests for specific endothelial and inflammatory markers (just before, on the day of implantation, 1 day after, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after implantation).