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Ultrasound Assessment of Diaphragmatic Structure and Function in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: A Point-of-Care Tool for Predicting Complications and Sarcopenia in Limited Resource Settings

NCT07667608 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 120

Last updated 2026-06-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn how liver cirrhosis affects the diaphragm, the main muscle used for breathing, in adults. The study will measure diaphragmatic thickness, thickening fraction, and excursion using bedside ultrasound and compare these values between patients with cirrhosis and healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do patients with cirrhosis show reduced diaphragmatic function compared to healthy adults?

Does removal of ascitic fluid by paracentesis improve diaphragmatic mechanics?

Can ultrasound measurements of the diaphragm serve as a reliable non-invasive marker of sarcopenia when compared to CT scans?

Participants will:

Undergo diaphragmatic ultrasound during quiet and deep breathing

Provide clinical and laboratory data related to liver disease severity

In some cases, have ultrasound repeated before and after paracentesis

For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, CT scans will be analyzed to measure muscle mass

Conditions

  • Cirrhosis of the Liver
  • Ascites
  • Pleural Effusion Disorder
  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
  • Sarcopenia
  • Diaphragm Movement

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Assiut University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Ahmed Helmy Salem, professor · Assiut University

  • Maiada Kamal Eldeen Hashem · Assiut University

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-08-10
Primary Completion
2027-08-10
Completion
2027-12-10

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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 NCT07667608 on ClinicalTrials.gov