Early diagnosis of portal hypertension is difficult as symptoms rarely manifest until the
later stages of liver disease. Both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension can
result in life-threatening complications, the most frequent of which is bleeding from
esophageal varices. In children, variceal bleeds are associated with mortality rates of 1-3
%, while life-threatening complications have been reported in up to 20 % of children with
cirrhosis. Despite the high incidence of portal hypertension in children with liver disease,
a noninvasive modality to monitor disease progression and risk of complications is currently
lacking. Hence, this trial will investigate the safety and efficacy of subharmonic aided
pressure estimation (SHAPE) as a noninvasive ultrasound technique for diagnosing portal
hypertension in children.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Thomas Jefferson University
Collaborators:
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)