Cystic FibrosisNCT02417740
Natural History of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension
An observational study of Cystic Fibrosis and Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, run by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH) is caused by liver diseases that increase pressure in the blood vessels of the liver. It seems to start slowly and not have many warning signs. Many people may not even know that they have a liver disease. There are no specific treatments for NCPH. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cystic Fibrosis, Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Turner Syndrome
- How many people
- 400 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 27 Jul 2015to 4 Sep 2029
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 12 to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Subjects with diagnosis of noncirrhotic portal hypertension above age of 12 years
Who may be able to join
- In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Male or female, aged >= 18 years of age, and minors 12-17 years of age.
- Women of childbearing potential must agree to use birth control unless they are menopausal or had hysterectomy.
- Known diagnosis of NCPH, or to be at the risk for NCPH by virtue of underlying disease processes such as but not limited to; CGD, SCD, Mastocytosis, CVID, CF, and CHF.
Who cannot join
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- Pregnancy.
- Evidence of other forms of liver disease that typically result in cirrhosis.
- Evidence of active Chronic Hepatitis B infection as defined by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum and elevated HBV DNA (>10,000 IU/mL).
- Hepatitis C as defined by the presence of hepatitis C RNA in serum.
- Evidence of other liver disease such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson s disease, autoimmune hepatitis as defined by either liver histology or laboratory abnormalities.
Show all 14Show fewer
- Hemochromatosis as defined by presence of 3+ or 4+ stainable iron on liver biopsy or homozygosity for C282Y. Patients with iron saturation indices of >45% and serum ferritin levels of >300 ng/ml for men and >250 ng/ml for women will undergo genetic testing for hemochromatosis.
- Bile duct obstruction as suggested by imaging studies done within the previous six months.
- The presence of cirrhosis confirmed by liver biopsy.
- Active substance abuse, such as alcohol, inhaled or injection drugs within the previous one year (assessed during subject interviews by subject self-report).
- Evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma; either alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels greater than 50 ng/ml (normal <6.6ng/ml) and/or ultrasound (or other imaging study) demonstrating a mass suggestive of liver cancer.
- Evidence of cholangiocarcinoma as suggested by liver histology.
- Any other severe condition, which in the opinion of the investigators would impede the patient s participation or compliance in the study.
- Inability to comply or give written informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
Jaha Norman-Wheeler, 301-435-6122, jaha.norman-wheeler@nih.gov
For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR), (800) 411-1222 ext. TTY dial 711, ccopr@nih.gov
About this study
Background:
- Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH) is caused by liver diseases that increase pressure in the blood vessels of the liver. It seems to start slowly and not have many warning signs. Many people may not even know that they have a liver disease. There are no specific treatments for NCPH.
Read more
Objectives:
- To learn more about how NCPH develops over time.
Eligibility:
- People age 12 and older who have NCPH or are at risk for getting it. In the past year, they cannot have had other types of liver disease that typically result in cirrhosis, liver cancer, or active substance abuse.
Design:
- Participants will have 2 screening visits.
- Visit 1: to see if they have or may develop NCPH.
- Medical history
- Physical exam
- Urine and stool studies
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Fibroscan. Sound waves measure liver stiffness.
<TAB>- Visit 2:
- Blood tests
- Abdominal MRI
- Echocardiogram
- Questionnaire
- Liver blood vessel pressure (hepatic venous portal gradient (HVPG)) measurement. This is done with a small tube inserted in a neck vein.
- They may have a liver biopsy.
- All participants will visit the clinic every 6 months for a history, physical exam, and blood tests. They will also repeat some of the screening tests yearly.
- Participants with NCPH will also have:
- Upper endoscopy test. A tube inserted in the mouth goes through the esophagus and stomach.
- At least every 2 years: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
- At least every 4 years: testing including HVPG measurements and liver biopsy.
- Participants without NCPH will also have:
- Liver biopsy and HVPG measurements to see if they have NCPH.
- Every 2 years: abdominal MRI and stool studies.
- The study will last indefinitely.
Read the detailed description
Study Description:
Up to 400 subjects with noncirrhotic portal hypertension or at risk for developing noncirrhotic portal hypertension by virtue of their
underlying disease (as well as sporadic cases of noncirrhotic portal hypertension as referred to in this protocol) will be offered inclusion
in the study.
Objectives:
Primary Objective:
- The goal of this natural history study is to generate understanding of the development and progression of NCPH. We will use our findings to generate novel biomarkers that will enable improved follow-up of patients, assist in preventing complications, and enhance transplant decision.
Secondary Objectives:
- Measurement of the bile acids and lipids to understand NCPH and porto-systemic shunting.
- Identification of the genetic modifiers of NCPH.
- Evaluation of hepatic transcriptome in absence and presence of NCPH.
- Characterization of microbiome signatures in NCPH.
Endpoints:
Primary Endpoints:
- Establish surveillance methods and guidelines for evaluation of NCPH.
- Develop an understanding of the biological mechanisms of the progression of NCPH.
- Identification of novel biomarkers correlating with NCPH progression.
Secondary Endpoints:
- Measurement of bile acids fractionated and total, as well as lipid panel to establish cut-off levels correlating with NCPH severity.
- Establishment of positive or negative correlation between candidate susceptible genes and disease phenotype.
- Identification of novel markers of fibrosis or the development of hepatic neoplasia from transcriptome analysis.
- Characterization of microbiome signatures (taxonomic and functional), as well as identification of specific species.
- Conditions
- Cystic Fibrosis, Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, Idiopathic Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension
- Keywords
- Portal Hypertension, Portal Fibrosis, Liver Disease, Varices, Splenomegaly, Natural History
- Medical subject headings
- Cystic Fibrosis, Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes, Turner Syndrome, Hepatic Fibrosis, Congenital, Idiopathic Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension, Hypertension, Portal, Liver Diseases, Varicose Veins
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Adult with absence of Portal Hypertension | Confirmed absence of Portal Hypertension will have no findings suggestive of non cirrhotic portal hypertension on liver biopsy and on portal pressure measurements on confirmatory examination. | |
| Adult with presence of Portal Hypertension | Confirmed Presence of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension, through confirmatory testing, tissue diagnosis by liver biopsy and/or portal hypertension (HVPG >5mmHg). | |
| Minors likely to have the absence of Portal Hypertension | Minors identified as Confirmed Absence of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension will have no abnormal findings on confirmatory examination. | |
| Minors likely to have the presence of Portal Hypertension | Minors identified as Confirmed Presence of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension, have shown they have the disease with a tissue diagnosis by liver biopsy and/or portal hypertension (HVPG >5). |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To study the natural history of non cirrhotic portal hypertension. It is an ongoing study.
natural history study
Measured: Ongoing
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Apr 2015 (estimated)
- Study start27 Jul 2015
- Primary completion4 Sep 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion4 Sep 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cystic FibrosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 400 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Theo Heller, M.D., Principal investigator, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02417740
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 150108
- Other IDs
- 15-DK-0108
- Status last verified
- 27 Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Apr 2015
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: This is a longitudinal study and it is not yet known if and when IPD will be made available.
Publications
Sarin SK, Aggarwal SR. Idiopathic portal hypertension. Digestion. 1998 Jul-Aug;59(4):420-3. doi: 10.1159/000007502. No abstract available.
PubMed 9693222Sarin SK, Kumar A, Chawla YK, Baijal SS, Dhiman RK, Jafri W, Lesmana LA, Guha Mazumder D, Omata M, Qureshi H, Raza RM, Sahni P, Sakhuja P, Salih M, Santra A, Sharma BC, Sharma P, Shiha G, Sollano J; Members of the APASL Working Party on Portal Hypertension. Noncirrhotic portal fibrosis/idiopathic portal hypertension: APASL recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Hepatol Int. 2007 Sep;1(3):398-413. doi: 10.1007/s12072-007-9010-9. Epub 2007 Sep 11.
PubMed 19669336Schouten JN, Garcia-Pagan JC, Valla DC, Janssen HL. Idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension. Hepatology. 2011 Sep 2;54(3):1071-81. doi: 10.1002/hep.24422. Epub 2011 Jul 21.
PubMed 21574171
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Natural History of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02417740
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 150108
- Conditions
- Cystic Fibrosis, Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, Idiopathic Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension
- Keywords
- Portal Hypertension, Portal Fibrosis, Liver Disease, Varices, Splenomegaly, Natural History
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 400 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 27 Jul 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 Sep 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 4 Sep 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Apr 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background:
- Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension (NCPH) is caused by liver diseases that increase pressure in the blood vessels of the liver. It seems to start slowly and not have many warning signs. Many people may not even know that they have a liver disease. There are no specific treatments for NCPH.
Objectives:
- To learn more about how NCPH develops over time.
Eligibility:
- People age 12 and older who have NCPH or are at risk for getting it. In the past year, they cannot have had other types of liver disease that typically result in cirrhosis, liver cancer, or active substance abuse.
Design:
- Participants will have 2 screening visits.
- Visit 1: to see if they have or may develop NCPH.
- Medical history
- Physical exam
- Urine and stool studies
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Fibroscan. Sound waves measure liver stiffness.
<TAB>- Visit 2:
- Blood tests
- Abdominal MRI
- Echocardiogram
- Questionnaire
- Liver blood vessel pressure (hepatic venous portal gradient (HVPG)) measurement. This is done with a small tube inserted in a neck vein.
- They may have a liver biopsy.
- All participants will visit the clinic every 6 months for a history, physical exam, and blood tests. They will also repeat some of the screening tests yearly.
- Participants with NCPH will also have:
- Upper endoscopy test. A tube inserted in the mouth goes through the esophagus and stomach.
- At least every 2 years: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
- At least every 4 years: testing including HVPG measurements and liver biopsy.
- Participants without NCPH will also have:
- Liver biopsy and HVPG measurements to see if they have NCPH.
- Every 2 years: abdominal MRI and stool studies.
- The study will last indefinitely.
Detailed description
Study Description:
Up to 400 subjects with noncirrhotic portal hypertension or at risk for developing noncirrhotic portal hypertension by virtue of their
underlying disease (as well as sporadic cases of noncirrhotic portal hypertension as referred to in this protocol) will be offered inclusion
in the study.
Objectives:
Primary Objective:
- The goal of this natural history study is to generate understanding of the development and progression of NCPH. We will use our findings to generate novel biomarkers that will enable improved follow-up of patients, assist in preventing complications, and enhance transplant decision.
Secondary Objectives:
- Measurement of the bile acids and lipids to understand NCPH and porto-systemic shunting.
- Identification of the genetic modifiers of NCPH.
- Evaluation of hepatic transcriptome in absence and presence of NCPH.
- Characterization of microbiome signatures in NCPH.
Endpoints:
Primary Endpoints:
- Establish surveillance methods and guidelines for evaluation of NCPH.
- Develop an understanding of the biological mechanisms of the progression of NCPH.
- Identification of novel biomarkers correlating with NCPH progression.
Secondary Endpoints:
- Measurement of bile acids fractionated and total, as well as lipid panel to establish cut-off levels correlating with NCPH severity.
- Establishment of positive or negative correlation between candidate susceptible genes and disease phenotype.
- Identification of novel markers of fibrosis or the development of hepatic neoplasia from transcriptome analysis.
- Characterization of microbiome signatures (taxonomic and functional), as well as identification of specific species.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Adult with absence of Portal Hypertension | – | –Confirmed absence of Portal Hypertension will have no findings suggestive of non cirrhotic portal hypertension on liver biopsy and on portal pressure measurements on confirmatory examination. |
| Adult with presence of Portal Hypertension | – | –Confirmed Presence of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension, through confirmatory testing, tissue diagnosis by liver biopsy and/or portal hypertension (HVPG >5mmHg). |
| Minors likely to have the absence of Portal Hypertension | – | –Minors identified as Confirmed Absence of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension will have no abnormal findings on confirmatory examination. |
| Minors likely to have the presence of Portal Hypertension | – | –Minors identified as Confirmed Presence of Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension, have shown they have the disease with a tissue diagnosis by liver biopsy and/or portal hypertension (HVPG >5). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Subjects with diagnosis of noncirrhotic portal hypertension above age of 12 years
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Male or female, aged >= 18 years of age, and minors 12-17 years of age.
- Women of childbearing potential must agree to use birth control unless they are menopausal or had hysterectomy.
- Known diagnosis of NCPH, or to be at the risk for NCPH by virtue of underlying disease processes such as but not limited to; CGD, SCD, Mastocytosis, CVID, CF, and CHF.
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- Pregnancy.
- Evidence of other forms of liver disease that typically result in cirrhosis.
- Evidence of active Chronic Hepatitis B infection as defined by the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum and elevated HBV DNA (>10,000 IU/mL).
- Hepatitis C as defined by the presence of hepatitis C RNA in serum.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
To study the natural history of non cirrhotic portal hypertension. It is an ongoing study.
Time frame: Ongoing
natural history study
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 9693222Sarin SK, Aggarwal SR. Idiopathic portal hypertension. Digestion. 1998 Jul-Aug;59(4):420-3. doi: 10.1159/000007502. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 19669336Sarin SK, Kumar A, Chawla YK, Baijal SS, Dhiman RK, Jafri W, Lesmana LA, Guha Mazumder D, Omata M, Qureshi H, Raza RM, Sahni P, Sakhuja P, Salih M, Santra A, Sharma BC, Sharma P, Shiha G, Sollano J; Members of the APASL Working Party on Portal Hypertension. Noncirrhotic portal fibrosis/idiopathic portal hypertension: APASL recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Hepatol Int. 2007 Sep;1(3):398-413. doi: 10.1007/s12072-007-9010-9. Epub 2007 Sep 11.
- Background: PubMed 21574171Schouten JN, Garcia-Pagan JC, Valla DC, Janssen HL. Idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension. Hepatology. 2011 Sep 2;54(3):1071-81. doi: 10.1002/hep.24422. Epub 2011 Jul 21.
- NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web PageLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. This is a longitudinal study and it is not yet known if and when IPD will be made available.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Theo Heller, M.D. principal investigator
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Cystic Fibrosis and Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, run by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at 1 site in United States.
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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. 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 United States. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jaha F Norman-Wheeler ((301) 435-6122, jaha.norman-wheeler@nih.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To study the natural history of non cirrhotic portal hypertension. It is an ongoing study. (time frame: Ongoing). 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 NCT02417740, which also lists 3 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 29 Oct 2026.