Non-invasive MRI Screening for Sarcopenia, Portal Hypertension, and Liver Cancer in Adults with Advanced Liver Disease

What this Trial Is About

Patients with established liver cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease face a high risk of developing liver cancer, portal hypertension, and muscle loss called sarcopenia, which can lead to serious health problems and death. This research aims to evaluate these conditions using a single short magnetic resonance MR scan. The goal is to improve early detection of liver cancer and better predict liver complications to help guide treatment decisions. The study involves 150 patients who will undergo four visits every six months over about two years, with an additional visit for some patients. Each visit includes a detailed clinical assessment, medical history review, FibroScan, MR examination, blood tests, muscle strength and mobility tests, quality of life questionnaires, and assessments for liver-related symptoms. The MR scan will capture body composition and liver measurements, including muscle volume, muscle fat, liver fat, spleen size, and liver stiffness. Specialized software will analyze these images to monitor sarcopenia and portal hypertension while liver cancer screening will be done using advanced MR techniques. Participants will be actively involved throughout the study period, attending scheduled visits alongside their routine clinical appointments. Researchers will measure changes in body composition, muscle fat, liver function scores, muscle strength, liver cancer presence, and other liver complications at multiple timepoints. Quality of life and symptom assessments will also be collected. The study aims to provide comprehensive data on liver disease progression, muscle loss, and cancer detection, helping to improve patient care and outcomes over the two-year follow-up.

Relevance of Sarcopenia in Advanced Liver Disease