Diagnosis and Quantification of Hepatic Steatosis Using Near-infrared Spectroscopy

NCT07254533 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 90

Last updated 2025-11-28

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

In liver transplantation, the main problem is the shortage of grafts due to the small pool of donors. In order to increase the number of donors, grafts are increasingly being taken from older donors, known as 'expanded criteria' donors, who have liver steatosis lesions. Currently, expanded criteria donors account for 75% of liver transplants, whereas in 2009 they accounted for less than 30% of liver transplants.

Steatosis and its progression Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an emerging disease in industrialised countries due to obesity, and corresponds to the accumulation of intracytoplasmic triglycerides.

Steatosis is diagnosed when this fat content represents more than 5% of the total liver mass. There are two types of steatosis: microvesicular steatosis and macrovacuolar steatosis, defined by the presence of lipid droplets larger than the nucleus with a nucleus displaced to the periphery. Macrovacuolar steatosis is responsible for impaired liver function if it is present in ≥30% of hepatocytes. It is a factor in poor prognosis for liver transplants, with reduced graft and recipient survival and an increase in early graft dysfunction after liver transplantation. The quantification of hepatic steatosis is based on the pathological analysis of a liver biopsy, which is currently the gold standard.

This technique has disadvantages: it is an invasive method, requiring an experienced pathologist, and presents inter-individual variability in the assessment and quantification of steatosis.

It is therefore essential to develop new non-invasive diagnostic tools that can identify the presence of steatosis \> 5% and ≥ 30%. Several non-invasive techniques for diagnosing steatosis have been studied: Fibroscan, CT scan, MRI, but none of those studied previously allow for the accurate quantification of hepatic steatosis, particularly macrovacuolar steatosis, with instant results.

Conditions

  • Hepatic Transplantation
  • Steatohepatitis

Interventions

DEVICE

Near-infrared spectrometer

Scan of the liver via near-infrared spectrometer

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-01-31
Primary Completion
2027-01-31
Completion
2027-01-31

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07254533 on ClinicalTrials.gov