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MRI Based Biomarkers in Pediatric Autoimmune Liver Disease

Cross-sectional Study for Assessment of MRI Based Biomarkers of Bile Duct Injury and Hepatic Fibrosis in Pediatric Onset Autoimmune Liver Disease

Who can join

Ages 6 to 23 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 6-23 years old.
2. Established or suspected clinical diagnosis of AIH or PSC.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of liver transplantation.
2. Chronic Hepatitis B or untreated hepatitis C virus infection.
3. Pregnancy.
4. Absolute contraindication for MRI (e.g. pacemaker, metallic implants, claustrophobia).
5. Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis or biliary atresia
6. Diagnosis of cardiac hepatopathy.
7. Diagnosis of Wilson's disease, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, or Glycogen storage disease.
8. Skin conditions which could be aggravated by MREL (i.e. Epidermolysis bullosa).

About the study

Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD), which include Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) are a common etiological factors for chronic liver disease among adolescents. In all these conditions, autoimmune lymphocyte responses are thought to orchestrate inflammatory injury against hepatocytes (primarily in AIH) or cholangiocytes (in PSC). In this proposal we aim to evaluate the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) modalities; MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and MR elastography (MREL), as non-invasive biomarkers to assess two primary pathophysiological processes of AILD: bile duct damage and liver fibrosis. In this cross-sectional study MRI based findings of bile duct injury and liver fibrosis will be correlated with both liver histology and circulating biomarkers of these disease processes.

Sponsor: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · Participants: 115 · Started: Jan 17, 2017

Contact the study team

• Alexander Miethke, MD · Phone: 513-636-8948
• Cyd Castro Rojas, PhD · Phone: 513-517-0580

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT03175471

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Sclerosing Cholangitis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.