Brain Imaging in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease and Functional Impairment.

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2007-10-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequent complication of chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) and involves a wide spectrum of problems from mild impairment of reaction times in driving and operating machinery through to disturbances in mood, behaviour and conscious levels.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a method of obtaining pictures of the inside of the body. Patients with liver disease have previously been studied with MRI which has highlighted changes in the brain. This research aims to highlight some of the differences in the way that the brain functions in patients with liver disease. Using our new, more powerful MRI scanner, with more sophisticated techniques we hope that the novel combination of MRI techniques can objectively detect the presence of , and monitor HE.

Study hypothesis: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a reversible, metabolic disturbance of the brain, associated with low grade brain swelling and disturbances of the chemical balance within the brain, resulting in functional impairment, the presence of which MR imaging can detect with sufficient sensitivity to monitor the changes that may occur over time in response to treatment.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Imperial College London
• Collaborators: Paddington Charitable Estates Educational Fund; Royal College of Physicians; The Paddington Charitable Trust, St Marys, London (2 year fellowship); University of London
• Treatments: N-Methylaspartate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-65

• Biopsy-proven cirrhosis

• Clinically stable

• Able to give informed consent

• Fluent English (required for psychometric testing)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ferro-magnetic implants

• Claustrophobia

• Weight >120kg

• Significant renal impairment (Creatinine >150 micromol/L)

• Poorly controlled Diabetes (particularly type I with microvascular complications)

• Alcohol: if alcoholic liver disease is the aetiology of their liver disease they should be abstinent. Otherwise less than 20g per day.