MRI Based Biomarkers in Pediatric Autoimmune Liver Disease

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis; Autoimmune Hepatitis; Autoimmune Liver Disease

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03175471

CIN001-MRI biomarkers in AILD

Details and patient eligibility

About

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD), which include Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) are a common etiological factors for chronic liver disease among adolescents. In all these conditions, autoimmune lymphocyte responses are thought to orchestrate inflammatory injury against hepatocytes (primarily in AIH) or cholangiocytes (in PSC). In this proposal we aim to evaluate the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) modalities; MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and MR elastography (MREL), as non-invasive biomarkers to assess two primary pathophysiological processes of AILD: bile duct damage and liver fibrosis. In this cross-sectional study MRI based findings of bile duct injury and liver fibrosis will be correlated with both liver histology and circulating biomarkers of these disease processes.

Enrollment: 115 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 23 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 6-23 years old.
2. Established or suspected clinical diagnosis of AIH or PSC.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of liver transplantation.
2. Chronic Hepatitis B or untreated hepatitis C virus infection.
3. Pregnancy.
4. Absolute contraindication for MRI (e.g. pacemaker, metallic implants, claustrophobia).
5. Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis or biliary atresia
6. Diagnosis of cardiac hepatopathy.
7. Diagnosis of Wilson's disease, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, or Glycogen storage disease.
8. Skin conditions which could be aggravated by MREL (i.e. Epidermolysis bullosa).

Trial design

115 participants in 1 patient group

Patients with autoimmune liver disease

Description:

Patients (6-23 y.o.) with established clinical diagnosis of AIH or suspected diagnosis of AIH based on elevated serum AST or ALT, elevated IgG level \>1.1 ULN, elevated titer of autoantibodies, including ANA, SMA, LKM, LC-1 or SLA, which is consistent with the simplified criteria for the diagnosis of AIH in children will be enrolled. Patients (6-23 y.o.) with established clinical diagnosis of PSC or Suspected diagnosis of PSC supported by abnormal cholangiogram (ERCP or MRCP) or elevated GGT\>1.5 ULN and dilated bile ducts by liver ultrasound will be enrolled.