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Liver CirrhosisLSSM-RCTNCT02024347

A New Screening Strategy for Varices

An observational study of Liver Cirrhosis, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Liver cirrhosis is an advanced stage of chronic liver diseases, which is often associated with various complications, namely esophageal and/or gastric varices, ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Liver Cirrhosis
How many people
548 participants
Where
1 siteHong Kong
Study dates
Jul 2013to Jun 2016
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Subjects will be recruited from the medical clinics of Prince of Wales Hospital and Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. Patients with known chronic liver diseases, radiological evidence of liver cirrhosis and compensated liver function will be invited.

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 years or above
  • Known chronic liver diseases
  • Radiological evidence of liver cirrhosis, defined as coarse liver echotexture and/or nodularity \& small liver size noted on liver imaging
  • Informed written consent obtained

Who cannot join

  • Absence of chronic liver diseases (i.e. acute liver diseases in the absence of chronic components e.g. acute hepatitis A)
  • Decompensated liver cirrhosis, i.e. Child's B or C liver cirrhosis
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Portal vein thrombosis
  • Previous liver surgery
  • Liver transplantation
Show all 14Show fewer
  • Recent upper endoscopy within last 36 months
  • Recent transient elastography within last 24 months
  • Current use of beta-blockers
  • Known varices of grade II or above diagnosed from previous endoscopic examination, and/or previous history of variceal bleeding
  • Previous endoscopic treatment to varices (e.g. banding ligation, sclerotherapy)
  • Serious concurrent illness (e.g. malignancy) leading to a life expectancy shorter than 6 months
  • Contraindications to transient elastography (e.g. pregnancy, previous pacemaker implantation)
  • Refusal to consent

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Hong Kong1 site
  • Prince of Wales Hospital

    Hong Kong

Other trials in Hong Kong

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a New Screening Strategy for Varices Based on Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurement (LSSM) in Cirrhotic Patients

Liver cirrhosis is an advanced stage of chronic liver diseases, which is often associated with various complications, namely esophageal and/or gastric varices, ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is well known that the risk of complications varies even among cirrhotic patients, as those with more advanced disease would have more complications and poorer survival rates. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with transient elastography is found useful to identify cirrhotic patients with higher risk of portal hypertension and presence of varices . Recently, spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) with the same machine was found accurate to predict portal hypertension and esophageal varices.

Investigators hypothesized that a new screening strategy guided by LSM and SSM (LSSM) values (LSSM-guided) is non-inferior to conventional strategy in terms of detection rate of clinically significant esophageal and/or gastric varices for patients with liver cirrhosis in an open-labeled randomized controlled trial.

Consecutive patients with compensated liver cirrhosis will be invited for the study. Patients fulfilling the study criteria will be randomized into LSSM arm (upper endoscopy only performed to patients with high LSM or SSM values), and control arm (upper endoscopy performed to all patients). Patients randomized into LSSM arm will undergo transient elastography examination; those with high LSM or SSM results will be referred for upper endoscopy examination for to screen varices. Patients randomized into control arm will be directly referred for upper endoscopy examination.

Read the detailed description

Liver cirrhosis is an advanced stage of chronic liver diseases, which is often associated with various complications, namely esophageal and/or gastric varices, ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is well known that the risk of complications varies even among cirrhotic patients, as those with more advanced disease would have more complications and poorer survival rates. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with transient elastography is found useful to identify cirrhotic patients with higher risk of portal hypertension and presence of varices at cross-sectional basis. LSM cutoff values of 17.6 kPa and 21.0 kPa would have the sensitivity ≥ 90% in order to detect patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) above 10-12mmHg , while the presence of varices could be confidently excluded with a liver stiffness below 12.5-19.8 kPa. However, these suggested cutoff values overlap with those for detecting histologic cirrhosis in most chronic liver diseases. Hence there seems no significant additional information provided by LSM regarding screening endoscopy for varices among cirrhotic patients.

Recently, spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) with the same machine was found accurate to predict portal hypertension and esophageal varices. An SSM cutoff value <41.3 kPa is sensitive and seems able to accurately rule out the presence of varices. This supports a possible screening strategy, reserving upper endoscopy only for patients with an SSM ≥41.3kPa.

Conditions
Liver Cirrhosis
Medical subject headings
Liver Cirrhosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT02024347
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
LSSM armIntervention: upper endoscopy only performed to patients with high LSM (≥12.0kPa) or SSM (≥41.3kPa) values
Control armIntervention: upper endoscopy performed to all patients in this group.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Clinically significant esophageal and/or gastric varices

    Number of participants who develop large varices warranting pharmacological and/or endoscopic therapy according to the indications mentioned below:

    • Varices of any size which is actively bleeding;
    • Varices of any size identified in the presence of blood in the esophagus and/or stomach;
    • Varices of any size with the presence of red-wale signs and/or fibrin plugs;

    Measured: At time of upper endoscopy, up to 5 years

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Variceal bleeding

    Number of participants who develop variceal bleeding, the diagnosis of which is made when diagnostic upper endoscopy shows one of the following: active bleeding from a varix, a "white nipple" overlying a varix, clots overlying a varix, or varices with no other potential source of bleeding.

    Measured: At last visit, up to 5 years

  2. hepatic events

    Number of participants who develop ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic decompensation to Child's B or C cirrhosis

    Measured: At last visit, up to 5 years

  3. Hospitalization

    Number of participants who are admitted to hospital for emergency medical problems. This exclude hospitalizations which are scheduled electively.

    Measured: At last visit, up to 5 years

  4. Mortality

    Number of participants who die because of any causes.

    Measured: At last visit, up to 5 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted31 Dec 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2013
  3. Primary completionJun 2016
  4. Study completionJun 2016

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
548 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02024347
Sponsor's protocol ID
LSSM-RCT
Acronym
LSSM-RCT
Status last verified
Jan 2018
First submitted
12 Dec 2013
Last updated
25 Jan 2018
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Vizzutti F, Arena U, Romanelli RG, Rega L, Foschi M, Colagrande S, Petrarca A, Moscarella S, Belli G, Zignego AL, Marra F, Laffi G, Pinzani M. Liver stiffness measurement predicts severe portal hypertension in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Hepatology. 2007 May;45(5):1290-7. doi: 10.1002/hep.21665.

    PubMed 17464971
  • Castera L, Le Bail B, Roudot-Thoraval F, Bernard PH, Foucher J, Merrouche W, Couzigou P, de Ledinghen V. Early detection in routine clinical practice of cirrhosis and oesophageal varices in chronic hepatitis C: comparison of transient elastography (FibroScan) with standard laboratory tests and non-invasive scores. J Hepatol. 2009 Jan;50(1):59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2008.08.018. Epub 2008 Oct 26.

    PubMed 19013661
  • Bureau C, Metivier S, Peron JM, Selves J, Robic MA, Gourraud PA, Rouquet O, Dupuis E, Alric L, Vinel JP. Transient elastography accurately predicts presence of significant portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Jun;27(12):1261-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03701.x. Epub 2008 Apr 4.

    PubMed 18397389
  • Kazemi F, Kettaneh A, N'kontchou G, Pinto E, Ganne-Carrie N, Trinchet JC, Beaugrand M. Liver stiffness measurement selects patients with cirrhosis at risk of bearing large oesophageal varices. J Hepatol. 2006 Aug;45(2):230-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2006.04.006. Epub 2006 May 16.

    PubMed 16797100
  • Colecchia A, Montrone L, Scaioli E, Bacchi-Reggiani ML, Colli A, Casazza G, Schiumerini R, Turco L, Di Biase AR, Mazzella G, Marzi L, Arena U, Pinzani M, Festi D. Measurement of spleen stiffness to evaluate portal hypertension and the presence of esophageal varices in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Gastroenterology. 2012 Sep;143(3):646-654. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2012.05.035. Epub 2012 May 27.

    PubMed 22643348
  • de Franchis R; Baveno V Faculty. Revising consensus in portal hypertension: report of the Baveno V consensus workshop on methodology of diagnosis and therapy in portal hypertension. J Hepatol. 2010 Oct;53(4):762-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.06.004. Epub 2010 Jun 27. No abstract available.

    PubMed 20638742
  • Garcia-Tsao G, Sanyal AJ, Grace ND, Carey W; Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. Prevention and management of gastroesophageal varices and variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis. Hepatology. 2007 Sep;46(3):922-38. doi: 10.1002/hep.21907. No abstract available.

    PubMed 17879356
  • de Franchis R, Pascal JP, Ancona E, Burroughs AK, Henderson M, Fleig W, Groszmann R, Bosch J, Sauerbruch T, Soederlund C, et al. Definitions, methodology and therapeutic strategies in portal hypertension. A Consensus Development Workshop, Baveno, Lake Maggiore, Italy, April 5 and 6, 1990. J Hepatol. 1992 May;15(1-2):256-61. doi: 10.1016/0168-8278(92)90044-p. No abstract available.

    PubMed 1506645
  • Merkel C, Marin R, Angeli P, Zanella P, Felder M, Bernardinello E, Cavallarin G, Bolognesi M, Donada C, Bellini B, Torboli P, Gatta A; Gruppo Triveneto per l'Ipertensione Portale. A placebo-controlled clinical trial of nadolol in the prophylaxis of growth of small esophageal varices in cirrhosis. Gastroenterology. 2004 Aug;127(2):476-84. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2004.05.004.

    PubMed 15300580
  • Wong GL, Liang LY, Kwok R, Hui AJ, Tse YK, Chan HL, Wong VW. Low Risk of Variceal Bleeding in Patients With Cirrhosis After Variceal Screening Stratified by Liver/Spleen Stiffness. Hepatology. 2019 Sep;70(3):971-981. doi: 10.1002/hep.30522. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

    PubMed 30681726
  • Wong GLH, Kwok R, Hui AJ, Tse YK, Ho KT, Lo AOS, Lam KLY, Chan HCH, Lui RA, Au KHD, Chan HLY, Wong VWS. A new screening strategy for varices by liver and spleen stiffness measurement (LSSM) in cirrhotic patients: A randomized trial. Liver Int. 2018 Apr;38(4):636-644. doi: 10.1111/liv.13560. Epub 2017 Sep 10.

    PubMed 28853196

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Liver Cirrhosis, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jan 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Clinically significant esophageal and/or gastric varices (time frame: At time of upper endoscopy, up to 5 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02024347, which also lists 11 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jan 2018.

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