Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Hong Kong

NCT00577044 | Unknown

• 3 other identifiers: UW 05-120 T/783HARECCTR0500006KW/EX/05-036
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 600
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 5

Brief Summary

The true incidence and prevalence of NAFLD in Hong Kong has not been determined. The natural history of NAFLD is not well defined partly because of differences in the exclusion limit of alcohol and the required histological criteria between studies. NAFLD is previously believed to be a benign non-progressive condition, but it has since been determined that a subset of patients can progress to cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. In fact in a recent histological review of NAFLD, fibrosis or liver cirrhosis was present in 15-50% of patients at index liver biopsy. The presence of obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus are the strongest predictors of fibrosis. These same risk factors are also more common in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis. Further evidence of the link between diabetes, obesity and NAFLD are mainly from the field of liver transplantation. In patients who underwent liver transplantation for cryptogenic liver cirrhosis, NAFLD recuured in a quarter of the hepatic allografts. The patients with recurrent NAFLD were more likely to be diabetic and had a higher body mass index (BMI) at the time of recurrent NAFLD. This suggests that NAFLD may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of crytogenic cirrhosis. Although NAFLD was initially described as a slowly progressive disease, there are emerging data which shows that it can progress rapidly. Liver failure has even been described in patients with NAFLD after bariatric surgery, and a recent report described 5 cases of subacute liver failure in obese middle aged females with NAFLD related cirrhosis. NAFLD can also affect the progression of other diseases as well. Hepatic steatosis related to visceral obesity is a major independent risk factor for fibrogenesis related to chronic HCV hepatitis. However, the prevalence of NAFLD and its interaction with chronic HBV, if any, is uncertain. This study aims to determine the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with unknown cause of hepatitis and to determine the histological fibrosis and inflammation in chronic HBV patients with NAFLD.

Conditions

Fatty Liver

Keywords

NAFLD

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years old
• Gender: male and female

You may not qualify if:

• HBV patients and fatty liver HCV HIV

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospital Authority, Hong Kong: lead
• The University of Hong Kong: collaborator

Study Sites (5)

Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital

Hong Kong, China

Location

Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital

Hong Kong, China

Location

Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Hong Kong, China

Location

Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital

Hong Kong, China

Location

Department of Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital

Hong Kong, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatty Liver; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Liver Diseases; Digestive System Diseases

Study Officials

• George K Lau, Dr

  Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital/ The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2007
• First Posted: December 19, 2007
• Study Start: June 1, 2004
• Study Completion: December 1, 2007
• Last Updated: December 17, 2008

Record last verified: 2008-06

Locations

CN (5)