Liver CirrhosisNCT07116096
Effect of Handgrip Strength on Portal Vein Hemodynamics in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
A study testing Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer in people with Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, run by Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital at 2 sites in China.
Trial summary
1. Background Handgrip strength , a core indicator of muscle function, has been confirmed to be significantly associated with the clinical prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. However, no studies have explored its correlation with portal venous hemodynamics. 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Liver Cirrhosis, Portal Hypertension
- What is being tested?
- Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesChina
- Study dates
- 17 Aug 2025to 15 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged ≥18 years old
- Clinically diagnosed with liver cirrhosis
- Endoscopic observation to determine the presence of esophagogastric varices
- Only eligible for the portal vein pressure measurement group if there are no signs of variceal bleeding for at least 14 days
- Participant or guardian is capable of comprehending the study protocol, willing to participate, and able to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Severe congestive heart failure, or severe untreated valvular heart disease
- Moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension
- Uncontrolled systemic infection
- Lesions (e.g., cysts) or tumors in the liver parenchyma that preclude TIPS creation
- Overt hepatic encephalopathy
- Unrelieved biliary obstruction
Show all 12Show fewer
- Child-Pugh score > 13
- MELD score > 18
- INR > 5
- Platelet count < 20 ×109/mm3
- No gastrointestinal bleeding (suitable for the ultrasound examination group and the endoscopic ultrasonography group)
- Participants who had undergone hand or wrist surgery within the previous 3 months or were unable to hold the dynamometer with the testing hand were excluded from the study.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology
Luoyang, Henan, 471003
Yaojian Rao, M.D., 86+13698817187, yaojian8162021@163.com
- Recruiting
Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital
Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030012
Mingyuan Zhao, 86-13485371098, zmy255255@163.com
About this study
- Background Handgrip strength , a core indicator of muscle function, has been confirmed to be significantly associated with the clinical prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. However, no studies have explored its correlation with portal venous hemodynamics.
- Objective The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of Handgrip strength on portal vein and left gastric vein pressure, blood flow velocity and direction in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as its hemodynamic impact on gastroesophageal varices.
- Method Study Design: Interventional study. Detection Timing: Hemodynamic indices were measured simultaneously after patients achieved their maximum handgrip strength. Participants were divided into three groups based on the assessment methods. Group 1 (Portal Pressure Measurement Group): Before the placement of TIPS, the pressures of the portal vein and left gastric vein were measured, both before and after the handgrip strength test. Group 2 (Doppler Ultrasound Measurement Group): Measurements of portal flow velocity and direction were taken before and after the handgrip strength test, based on Doppler ultrasound. Group 3 (Endoscopic Ultrasound Measurement Group): Measurements of blood flow volume and direction in esophagogastric varices were conducted before and after the handgrip strength test, based on endoscopic ultrasonography. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were described.
- Elaboration of the Research Hypothesis 4.1. Core Hypothesis The handgrip strength level in patients with liver cirrhosis is correlated with portal venous system hemodynamic indices. Specifically, enhanced handgrip strength may affect portal hypertension and the hemodynamics of varicose veins by improving systemic muscle function or circulatory status.
4.2. Speculation on potential mechanisms Association between muscle function and circulation: As a representative of systemic muscle function, increased handgrip strength may reflect an increase in cardiac output or changes in splanchnic vascular resistance, thereby influencing portal venous hemodynamics.
Read more
Effects on varicose veins: Improved handgrip strength may reduce blood flow velocity or diameter of esophagogastric varices by decreasing splanchnic congestion or regulating local vascular tension, thus lowering the risk of variceal rupture and bleeding.
Role of compensatory mechanisms: Muscle wasting is common in decompensated cirrhosis. Patients with higher handgrip strength may have better compensatory capacity, and the degree of hemodynamic disorder in their portal venous system may be less severe.
Conclusion This study uses a multi-method grouping design to first explore the association between handgrip strength and portal venous hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients. The hypothesis is based on the potential regulatory role of muscle function in the circulatory system, which is expected to provide a new non-invasive indicator for clinical assessment of portal hypertension risk.
- Conditions
- Liver Cirrhosis, Portal Hypertension
- Being tested
- Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer
- Medical subject headings
- Liver Cirrhosis, Hypertension, Portal
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand DynamometerDevice
Jamar Hand Dynamometer, from Illinois, USA. Maximum handgrip strength was measured three times, with each measurement lasting 3 seconds and a 1-minute interval between tests
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Portal pressure measurement group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer |
| Doppler Ultrasound Measurement Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer |
| Endoscopic Ultrasound Measurement Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
portal pressure
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
left gastric vein pressure
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
portal flow velocity
Measured: Before the handgrip strength test, and during the maximum handgrip strength phase, measurements were conducted at intervals of 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds after the release of strength related to the HGS
Portal vein blood flow direction
Measured: Before the handgrip strength test, and during the maximum handgrip strength phase, measurements were conducted at intervals of 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds after the release of strength related to the HGS
Blood flow velocity in esophageal varices
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Blood flow direction of esophageal varices
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Diameter of esophageal varices
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Heart rate
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
blood pressure
Measured: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Secondary outcomes (15)
Serum albumin
Measured: Baseline
Prothrombin time
Measured: Baseline
triglyceride
Measured: Baseline
Total cholesterol
Measured: Baseline
Fasting blood glucose
Measured: Baseline
Serum creatinine
Measured: Baseline
Platelet count
Measured: Baseline
Serum potassium
Measured: Baseline
Serum sodium
Measured: Baseline
Serum chloride
Measured: Baseline
alanine aminotransferase
Measured: Baseline
aspartate aminotransferase
Measured: Baseline
Total bilirubin
Measured: Baseline
height
Measured: Baseline
weight
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Aug 2025
- Study start17 Aug 2025
- Primary completion15 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Liver CirrhosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Collaborators
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, The Third People's Hospital of Taiyuan, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07116096
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MZhao
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 15 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The way of sharing IPD: Sharing and email consultation will begin after December 31, 2026. Data collection and Management: Case record forms and electronic data captures.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Handgrip Strength on Portal Vein Hemodynamics in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07116096
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MZhao
- Conditions
- Liver Cirrhosis, Portal Hypertension
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Shanxi Provincial People's HospitalOther government
- Collaborators
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, The Third People's Hospital of Taiyuan, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology
- Study start
- 17 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Aug 2025 (actual)
- 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 Handgrip strength , a core indicator of muscle function, has been confirmed to be significantly associated with the clinical prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. However, no studies have explored its correlation with portal venous hemodynamics.
- Objective The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of Handgrip strength on portal vein and left gastric vein pressure, blood flow velocity and direction in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as its hemodynamic impact on gastroesophageal varices.
- Method Study Design: Interventional study. Detection Timing: Hemodynamic indices were measured simultaneously after patients achieved their maximum handgrip strength. Participants were divided into three groups based on the assessment methods. Group 1 (Portal Pressure Measurement Group): Before the placement of TIPS, the pressures of the portal vein and left gastric vein were measured, both before and after the handgrip strength test. Group 2 (Doppler Ultrasound Measurement Group): Measurements of portal flow velocity and direction were taken before and after the handgrip strength test, based on Doppler ultrasound. Group 3 (Endoscopic Ultrasound Measurement Group): Measurements of blood flow volume and direction in esophagogastric varices were conducted before and after the handgrip strength test, based on endoscopic ultrasonography. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were described.
- Elaboration of the Research Hypothesis 4.1. Core Hypothesis The handgrip strength level in patients with liver cirrhosis is correlated with portal venous system hemodynamic indices. Specifically, enhanced handgrip strength may affect portal hypertension and the hemodynamics of varicose veins by improving systemic muscle function or circulatory status.
4.2. Speculation on potential mechanisms Association between muscle function and circulation: As a representative of systemic muscle function, increased handgrip strength may reflect an increase in cardiac output or changes in splanchnic vascular resistance, thereby influencing portal venous hemodynamics.
Effects on varicose veins: Improved handgrip strength may reduce blood flow velocity or diameter of esophagogastric varices by decreasing splanchnic congestion or regulating local vascular tension, thus lowering the risk of variceal rupture and bleeding.
Role of compensatory mechanisms: Muscle wasting is common in decompensated cirrhosis. Patients with higher handgrip strength may have better compensatory capacity, and the degree of hemodynamic disorder in their portal venous system may be less severe.
Conclusion This study uses a multi-method grouping design to first explore the association between handgrip strength and portal venous hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients. The hypothesis is based on the potential regulatory role of muscle function in the circulatory system, which is expected to provide a new non-invasive indicator for clinical assessment of portal hypertension risk.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Portal pressure measurement group | Experimental | Device: Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer |
| Doppler Ultrasound Measurement Group | Experimental | Device: Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer |
| Endoscopic Ultrasound Measurement Group | Experimental | Device: Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adults aged ≥18 years old
- Clinically diagnosed with liver cirrhosis
- Endoscopic observation to determine the presence of esophagogastric varices
- Only eligible for the portal vein pressure measurement group if there are no signs of variceal bleeding for at least 14 days
- Participant or guardian is capable of comprehending the study protocol, willing to participate, and able to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Severe congestive heart failure, or severe untreated valvular heart disease
- Moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension
- Uncontrolled systemic infection
- Lesions (e.g., cysts) or tumors in the liver parenchyma that preclude TIPS creation
- Overt hepatic encephalopathy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand DynamometerJamar Hand Dynamometer, from Illinois, USA. Maximum handgrip strength was measured three times, with each measurement lasting 3 seconds and a 1-minute interval between tests | Device | Doppler Ultrasound Measurement Group, Endoscopic Ultrasound Measurement Group, Portal pressure measurement group |
Primary outcome
portal pressure
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
left gastric vein pressure
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
portal flow velocity
Time frame: Before the handgrip strength test, and during the maximum handgrip strength phase, measurements were conducted at intervals of 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds after the release of strength related to the HGS
Portal vein blood flow direction
Time frame: Before the handgrip strength test, and during the maximum handgrip strength phase, measurements were conducted at intervals of 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds after the release of strength related to the HGS
Blood flow velocity in esophageal varices
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Blood flow direction of esophageal varices
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Diameter of esophageal varices
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
Heart rate
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
blood pressure
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes
15 secondary outcomes
Serum albumin
Time frame: Baseline
Prothrombin time
Time frame: Baseline
triglyceride
Time frame: Baseline
Total cholesterol
Time frame: Baseline
Fasting blood glucose
Time frame: Baseline
Serum creatinine
Time frame: Baseline
Platelet count
Time frame: Baseline
Serum potassium
Time frame: Baseline
Serum sodium
Time frame: Baseline
Serum chloride
Time frame: Baseline
alanine aminotransferase
Time frame: Baseline
aspartate aminotransferase
Time frame: Baseline
Total bilirubin
Time frame: Baseline
height
Time frame: Baseline
weight
Time frame: Baseline
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 15 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The way of sharing IPD: Sharing and email consultation will begin after December 31, 2026. Data collection and Management: Case record forms and electronic data captures.
Related trials for Liver Cirrhosis
RecruitingObservational study
The Value of Spleen Thickness and Spleen Diameter for Gastroesophageal Varices Diagnosis in Compensated Cirrhosis
Liver Cirrhosis, Gastroesophageal Varices
Recruiting
Optimal Treatment Strategy for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis, Paracentesis
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
Study of Elafibranor in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
RecruitingPhase 3
Trial to Evaluate ALN-CIDEB in Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, MASLD
RecruitingPhase 2
High Dose Albumin in Refractory Ascites
Ascites
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.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Jamar Hand Dynamometer, Hand Dynamometer in people with Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, run by Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital at 2 sites in China.
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 5 inclusion and 12 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 15 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in China. 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 Mingyuan Zhao, M.D. (+86 134 8537 1098, zmy255255@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
portal pressure (time frame: through study completion, an average of 3 minutes). The study lists 9 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 15 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.