Active clinical trials for "Liver Cirrhosis"

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who had an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid.

This study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that supplementing a meal with dark chocolate, which holds potent antioxidant properties, might attenuate the postprandial increase in the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG, clinical equivalent of portal pressure) in patients with cirrhosis

The primary objective is to determine the optimal dose or range of doses of SR121463B for the treatment of ascites and the correction of hyponatraemia when used concomitantly with a standard dose regimen of spironolactone. The secondary objective is to determine the tolerability of different fixed doses of SR121463B over a 14 day treatment period in cirrhotic ascites. This Hypo~CAT study is followed by a single-blind, placebo-controlled, one-year long-term safety extension (Expo~CAT). The first extension is followed by another long-term study (PASCCAL-1).

The standard treatment for decompensated cirrhosis is liver transplantation, however, it has several limitations. Recent animal studies suggest that bone marrow stem cell transplantation can lead to regression of liver fibrosis. The investigators have already completed the phase 1 study of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation in 4 patients with cirrhosis. The procedure was safe, and feasible, and led to somewhat promising results (Mohamadnejad M, et al. 2006; Submitted for publication). The aim of this study is to find efficacy of this new treatment strategy in the setting of a multicenter, randomized placebo-controlled trial in 50 patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC) represent a small cellular population of bone marrow and peripheral blood cells. EPCs are recruited into injured tissues and play an important role in regeneration and reparation. Experimental and clinical data suggest that EPCs have hepatoprotective activity and could improve liver regeneration during acute and chronic liver injury. The aim of this project is to evaluate the safety and therapeutic effects of autologous bone marrow-derived EPCs, when administered through the hepatic artery of patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

Although liver transplantation provide a option to cure patients suffering with decompensated liver cirrhosis this condition, lack of donors, postoperative complications, especially rejection, and high cost limit its application. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have been shown to replace hepatocytes in injured liver, effectively rescued experimental liver failure and contributed to liver regeneration, which suggest the novel and promising therapeutic strategy In this study, the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) transplantation for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis will be evaluated.

This study evaluated the clinical response of the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin, compared with an antiviral treatment-free group in CHC patients with compensated LC. Additionally, this study evaluated the dosage reactivity and the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in CHC patients with compensated LC.

In order to determine the clinical application potential of adult stem cells we propose to investigate the safety and toxicity of infusing adult stem cells in the hepatic artery or portal vein of five patients with chronic liver insufficiency and to identify any clinical benefit if such occurs. Objectives: To assess safety and treatment related toxicities To determine clinical benefit or deterioration by monitoring changes in liver function

The goal of this study is to find an effective and well-tolerated medical therapy for itching due to liver disease. Persons with primary biliary cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis C are currently being enrolled in the study. Persons participating in the study are given sertraline, a medication which is also often used for depression,to treat their itching. The dose is gradually increased as the effect on itching and any other potential side effects are carefully monitored.

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the effects of ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic acid), with and without methotrexate, on pruritus, incapacitation index, and serum markers of activity and severity in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. II. Compare the effects of these regimens on the development of ascites, encephalopathy, varices (or bleeding from pre-existing varices), histologic liver changes, transplantation, and survival. III. Compare the toxicity and safety of each regimen.