The Availability of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Test Affects the Rate of Diagnosis of Nonal… (NCT05370053) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
The Availability of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Test Affects the Rate of Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) With Fibrosis in Patients Referred to Hepatology
United States450 participantsStarted 2020-09-01
Plain-language summary
Background: During the hepatology evaluation, vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is often used as a clinical decision aid to target high-risk patients for liver biopsy. The enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test is expected to be approved in the US. We tested the hypothesis that making the ELF results available to the treating hepatologist will result in more appropriate and targeted use of liver biopsy in patients with elevated liver enzymes or fatty liver, and will result in more cases of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis being diagnosed. Methods: During the hepatology evaluation for elevated liver enzymes or fatty liver at the University of Kansas Medical Center, the hepatologists (8 total) make a clinical decision on whether patients shall receive VCTE. At the end of the clinic visit, patients were enrolled and randomized to receiving an ELF test. Patients with liver biopsy within the last five years or decompensated cirrhosis were excluded. The primary outcome is the rate of a diagnosis of F3-4 fibrosis based on liver biopsy or clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis with the initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance. Four hundred fifty patients are to be enrolled over two years.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients from hepatology clinic undergoing new evaluation for NAFLD.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with liver biopsy within the last five years or decompensated cirrhosis were excluded. Patients known to have other liver diseases were also excluded. Patients consuming \> 14 drinks in the past 6 months were excluded. Patients may be subsequently found to have positive viral or autoimmune serologies after enrollment because the serology result is typically not available at the time of enrollment. These patients will be excluded from the analysis.
Questions worth asking your doctor
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1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
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Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
A diagnosis of F3-4 fibrosis based on liver biopsy or clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis.