Hyperpolarized Pyruvate (13C) Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Patients With Fatty Liver Disease

Michael Ohliger, MD PhD

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: NASH; Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis; Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver; NAFLD; Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Treatments: Drug: Hyperpolarized 13C-Urea; Drug: Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Procedure: Saline Flush

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06176079

19-29381

5R01DK115987 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The recent development of dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technology for hyperpolarized (HP) 13C imaging offers a promising new avenue for non-invasively accessing fundamental metabolic changes associated with the progression of fatty liver disease in vivo. The purpose of this pilot study is to optimize sequence parameters for hyperpolarized 13C acquisition in the human liver and determine which metabolic changes can be seen in humans with simple, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when compared to healthy volunteers.

Full description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

1. Optimize scan parameters in order to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the HP 13C-pyruvate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the liver.
2. Determine whether the level of lactate production (as measured by the lactate/pyruvate ratio) in NASH participants, participants with simple NAFL, and healthy volunteers.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

1. Develop data analysis methods to quantify HP C-13 pyruvate MRI data.
2. Further characterize the safety profile of HP C-13 pyruvate injections.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

1. Examine the impact of the dual liver blood supply on the vascular kinetics of observed hyperpolarized 13C metabolism.
2. Improve methods of quantification and motion correction for hyperpolarized 13C acquisition, incorporating perfusion information derived from 13C Urea

OUTLINE:

Part 1: (Imaging Optimization, N=50): Participants enrolled in Part 1 will predominantly be healthy volunteers. As the protocol optimization is completed, there is a possibility that testing in using data from participants with fatty liver disease may be performed. Participants in this part will be divided into two cohorts:

• Cohort A: Participants will undergo MRI but no injection of hyperpolarized 13C.
• Cohort B: Participants will receive one HP 13C injection. Participants in this cohort will have the option of undergoing repeated dose imaging studies of HP 13C-pyruvate or HP 13C-pyruvate+HP 13C-urea "copol", for up to a total of two injections per imaging visit.

Part 2: (Pilot Study, N=30): Participants enrolled in Part 2 will receive the HP 13C-pyruvate or HP13C-pyruvate+HP13C-urea "copol" protocol that was optimized in Part 1 as well as standard liver MRI pulse sequences. Participants will be stratified into the following groups based on diagnosis:

• Group 1 (n=10): Participants with a diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver without steatohepatitis (NAFL)
• Group 2 (n=10): Participants with a diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Group 3 (n=10): Participants with no known liver disease (healthy volunteers)

Participants will be followed for 2-4 days following imaging procedure.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Part 1 (Imaging Optimization):

1. Able and willing to sign informed consent.
2. Age >= 18 years old at the time of study entry.

Part 2 (Pilot Study):

• Group 1 (Fatty Liver Patients without NASH):

  1. NAFL as determined by either clinical suspicion of fatty liver disease based on:

     1. steatosis by imaging or histology,
     2. no significant alcohol consumption,
     3. absence of coexisting liver disease OR NAFL determined by liver biopsy 3 months prior to the scan, with the presence of fat on histology but absent ballooning or fibrosis. (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis activity score (NAS) <= 3).

  2. Able and willing to sign informed consent.

  3. Age ≥ 18 years old at the time of study entry.

  4. Alcohol consumption < 2 drinks/day for men and <1 drink/day for women

  5. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibody, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody negative.

  6. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 400 microliter (uL)

• Group 2 (NASH Patients):

  1. NASH as determined by liver biopsy 3 months prior to the scan.

     a) NASH defined as NAS score greater than or equal to 4 with confirmation of NASH by an anatomic pathologist.

  2. Able and willing to sign informed consent.

  3. Age >= 18 years old at the time of study entry.

  4. Alcohol consumption < 2 drinks/day for men and <1 drink/day for women

  5. HBsAg, HCV antibody, HIV antibody negative.

• Group 3 (Healthy volunteer):

  1. No known history of diabetes or liver disease.
  2. Able and willing to sign informed consent.
  3. Age >= 18 years old at the time of study entry.
  4. Body mass index < 25.
  5. Liver panel normal (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin).
  6. HBsAg, HCV antibody, HIV antibody negative.
  7. Hemoglobin A1c < 5.7%.
  8. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >= 60 mL/min/1.73m^2

Exclusion criteria

Part 1 (Imaging Optimization): For Cohorts 1/B only:

1. Poorly controlled hypertension, with blood pressure at study entry > 160 mmHg systolic or > 100 mmHg diastolic.
2. Congestive heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) status ≥ 2.
3. Pregnant or nursing.
4. Participants unwilling or unable to undergo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, including participants with contra-indications to MRI, such as cardiac pacemakers or non-compatible intracranial vascular clips.
5. Participant size too large to fit in MR scanner.

Part 2 (Pilot Study): All groups

1. Poorly controlled hypertension, with blood pressure at study entry > 160 mmHg systolic or > 100 mmHg diastolic.
2. Current treatment with oral medication for diabetes.
3. Pregnant or nursing.
4. Participants unwilling or unable to undergo MR imaging, including patients with contra-indications to MRI, such as cardiac pacemakers or non-compatible intracranial vascular clips.
5. Participant size too large to fit in MR scanner.
6. Congestive heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) status >= 2.

Trial design

80 participants in 5 patient groups

Part 1 (Cohort A): No injection of hyperpolarized (HP) 13C

Description:

Participants who are comprised of, primarily, healthy volunteers will undergo a standard MRI scan.

Treatment:

Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Part 1 (Cohort B): Injection of hyperpolarized (HP) 13C or HP13C-pyruvate+HP13C-urea "copol"

Description:

Participants will receive HP 13C injection, and receive an MRI scan. Imaging results will be used to optimize the hyperpolarized 13C part of the imaging procedure. Participants will also have the option of undergoing repeated dose imaging studies of HP 13C-pyruvate or HP13C-pyruvate+HP13C-urea "copol", (up to a total of two injections per imaging visit separated by 15-60 minutes). Participants may be asked to fast up to 6 hours prior to the scan and the initial HP 13C MRI scan may be taken while participants are in a fasted state. Participants who have fasted will be offered up to 20 ounces (oz) of an oral glucose, fructose, or other high calorie drink (i.e. Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Ensure, etc.) to increase blood glucose levels, and a second HP 13C MRI scan will be performed after caloric intake.

Treatment:

Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Procedure: Saline Flush

Drug: Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C

Drug: Hyperpolarized 13C-Urea

Part 2 (Group 1): NAFLD

Description:

Participants with diagnosed NAFLD will receive HP 13C-pyruvate or HP13C-pyruvate+HP13C-urea "copol" injection optimized in Part 1 of the study as well as standard liver MRI pulse sequences.

Treatment:

Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Procedure: Saline Flush

Drug: Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C

Drug: Hyperpolarized 13C-Urea

Part 2 (Group 2): NASH

Description:

Participants with diagnosed NASH will receive HP 13C-pyruvate or HP13C-pyruvate+HP13C-urea "copol" injection optimized in Part 1 of the study as well as standard liver MRI pulse sequences.

Treatment:

Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Procedure: Saline Flush

Drug: Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C

Drug: Hyperpolarized 13C-Urea

Part 2 (Group 3): Healthy Volunteers

Description:

Healthy volunteers without known liver disease will receive HP 13C-pyruvate or HP13C-pyruvate+HP13C-urea "copol" injection optimized in Part 1 of the study as well as standard liver MRI pulse sequences.

Treatment:

Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Procedure: Saline Flush

Drug: Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C

Drug: Hyperpolarized 13C-Urea