Recruiting
Phase 3

SHAPE

Sponsor:

Thomas Jefferson University

Code:

NCT05470205

Conditions

Liver Diseases

Portal Hypertension

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

SHAPE measurement (Sonazoid ultrasoud contrast agent)

SHAPE measurement (Definity ultrasoud contrast agent)

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is an open-label, non-randomized trial that will be conducted at three clinical sites, Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and University of Bern (UB). Enrollment will be allocated into one of 4 different cohorts depending on the inclusion criteria for each cohort.

Cohort 1:

Patients scheduled for hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) measurements will subsequently undergo two consecutive SHAPE (subharmonic aided pressure estimation) procedures using different ultrasound contrast agents (Definity \[Lantheus Medical Imaging, N Bilerica, MA, USA\] and Sonazoid \[GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway\] in randomized order) to estimate portal pressures with a Logiq E10 scanner (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, USA) and determine the reproducibility of the SHAPE algorithm.

Cohort 2:

Patients identified as having clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) will be monitored by SHAPE with Sonazoid for the duration of this project (18-24 months on average). These subjects will have follow-up ultrasound scans every 6 ± 2 months to check for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (using the Barcelona-Liver Cancer staging system) as well as ascites and at those times a repeat SHAPE examination will be performed. Liver stiffness values will be measured with elastography as well. This cohort will examine if serial SHAPE can accurately predict development of ascites and other liver related events in patients with compensated cirrhosis undergoing routine HCC surveillance in a multi-center setting.

Cohort 3:

Subjects newly diagnosed with portal hypertension and starting treatment with non-selective β-blockers will be monitored with SHAPE and results compared to elastography measurements of liver stiffness with standard assessments (e.g., serum liver function tests and measurement of spleen size as well as platelet count). This cohort will establish if SHAPE can be used to monitor treatment response in patients identified with portal hypertension.

Cohort 4:

Patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease scheduled for an endoscopy examination for screening of varices relative to the Baveno VI and the expanded-Baveno VI criteria as well as the AST to Platelet Ratio Index will undergo a SHAPE examination. This cohort will compare the predictive ability of SHAPE for allocating patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease to screening of varices compared to the current standard of care.

Conditions

Liver Diseases

Portal Hypertension

Study ID

NCT05470205

Start date

Nov 28, 2022

Status verified date

Jan, 2025

Completion date

Apr 30, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb 28, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

All subjects accepted for this trial must fulfill all the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be medically stable.
  • If a female of child-bearing potential, must have a negative pregnancy test.
  • Be conscious and able to comply with study procedures.
  • Have read and signed the IRB-approved Informed Consent form for participating in the study.

Also there are specific inclusion criteria for each cohort:

Cohort 1:

• Be scheduled for transjugular liver biopsy where HVPG measurements will be obtained

Cohort 2:

• Have clinically significant portal hypertension undergoing routine HCC surveillance

Cohort 3:

• Have a diagnosis of portal hypertension and starting treatment with non-selective β-blockers

Cohort 4:

• Have clinically significant portal hypertension and be scheduled for endoscopy to screen for varices

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Females who are pregnant or nursing.
  • Patients with pulmonary hypertension or unstable cardiopulmonary conditions
  • Patients currently on chemotherapy or with other primary cancers requiring systemic or hepatic loco-regional treatment.
  • Patients who are medically unstable, patients who are seriously or terminally ill, and patients whose clinical course is unpredictable. For example:

  • Patients on life support or in a critical care unit.
  • Patients with unstable occlusive disease (e.g., crescendo angina)
  • Patients with clinically unstable cardiac arrhythmias, such as recurrent ventricular tachycardia.
  • Patients with uncontrolled congestive heart failure (NYHA Class IV)
  • Patients with recent cerebral hemorrhage.
  • Patients who have undergone surgery within 24 hours prior to the study sonographic examination.
  • Patients with a history of anaphylactic allergy to eggs or egg products, manifested by one or more of the following symptoms: generalized urticaria, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the mouth and throat, hypotension, or shock. (Subjects with nonanaphylactic allergies to eggs or egg products may be enrolled in the study, but must be watched carefully for 1 hour following the administration of Sonazoid).
  • Patients with congenital heart defects.
  • Patients with severe emphysema, pulmonary vasculitis, or a history of pulmonary emboli.
  • Patients with respiratory distress syndrome
  • Patients with thrombosis within the hepatic, portal, or mesenteric veins.
  • Patients with grade 2 and above of hepatic encephalopathy within the last 3 months

Also there is one additional exclusion criteria for cohort 1:

• Patients with a history of anaphylactic allergy to perflutren (PEG) or any other components of Definity

Study Design

Enrollment

660 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Non randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Diagnostic

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Reproducibility - Cohort 1

Patients scheduled for hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurements will subsequently undergo two consecutive SHAPE procedures using different ultrasound contrast agents (Definity and Sonazoid in randomized order) to estimate portal pressures with a Logiq E10 scanner (GE Healthcare).

Three vials with 48 µl of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles (6 ml) will be prepared and drawn into a 10 ml syringe, placed in a syringe pump. Sonazoid will be co-infused at a rate of 0.024 µl/kg body weight/minute (suspension infusion rate of 0.18 ml/kg/hour) together with a 0.9% NaCl solution infused at a rate of at least 2 ml/min.

Two vials with 3 mL of Definity will be mixed and diluted in 50 mL of normal saline, yielding a concentration of 49.4 μL/mL, and infused at a rate of at least 4 ml/min.

experimental: HCC monitoring - Cohort 2

Patients identified as having CSPH will be monitored every 6 ± 2 months to check for HCC by SHAPE with Sonazoid for the duration of this project ( for 18-24 months on average).

Three vials with 48 µl of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles (6 ml) will be prepared and drawn into a 10 ml syringe, placed in a syringe pump. Sonazoid will be co-infused at a rate of 0.024 µl/kg body weight/minute (suspension infusion rate of 0.18 ml/kg/hour) together with a 0.9% NaCl solution infused at a rate of at least 2 ml/min.

experimental: New β-blockers - Cohort 3

Patients newly diagnosed with portal hypertension and starting treatment with non-selective β-blockers will be monitored with SHAPE Three vials with 48 µl of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles (6 ml) will be prepared and drawn into a 10 ml syringe, placed in a syringe pump. Sonazoid will be co-infused at a rate of 0.024 µl/kg body weight/minute (suspension infusion rate of 0.18 ml/kg/hour) together with a 0.9% NaCl solution infused at a rate of at least 2 ml/min.

experimental: Ccreening for varices - Cohort 4

Patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease scheduled for an endoscopy examination for screening of varices according to the Baveno VI or the expanded-Baveno VI criteria as well as the AST to Platelet Ratio Index and FIB-4 will undergo a SHAPE examination.

Three vials with 48 µl of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles (6 ml) will be prepared and drawn into a 10 ml syringe, placed in a syringe pump. Sonazoid will be co-infused at a rate of 0.024 µl/kg body weight/minute (suspension infusion rate of 0.18 ml/kg/hour) together with a 0.9% NaCl solution infused at a rate of at least 2 ml/min.

Interventions

SHAPE measurement (Sonazoid ultrasoud contrast agent)

Three vials with 48 µl of Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles (6 ml) will be prepared and drawn into a 10 ml syringe, placed in a syringe pump. Sonazoid will be co-infused at a rate of 0.024 µl/kg body weight/minute (suspension infusion rate of 0.18 ml/kg/hour) together with a 0.9% NaCl solution infused at a rate of at least 2 ml/min.

SHAPE measurement (Definity ultrasoud contrast agent)

Two vials with 3 mL of Definity will be mixed and diluted in 50 mL of normal saline, yielding a concentration of 49.4 μL/mL, and infused at a rate of at least 4 ml/min.

Primary outcome measure

  • Reproducibility of SHAPE liver pressure measurements [ Time Frame: during procedure ]
  • Number of subjects who develop ascites during follow-up [ Time Frame: up to 18 months ]
  • Number of subjects who experience clinical decompensation events (including the development of variceal bleeding) during follow-up [ Time Frame: up to 18 months ]
  • Number of subjects who present with esophageal or gastric varices on endoscopy [ Time Frame: baseline ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Flemming Forsberg, PhD

215-955-4870flemming.forsberg@jefferson.edu

Cynthia Miller, RN

215-955-8108Cynthia.L.Miller.3@jefferson.edu

Locations

University of Pennsylvania

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Michael Soulen, MD

215-615-3591Michael.Soulen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Susan Schultz, BS, RDMS

215-573-0972Susan.Schultz@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Principal Investigator:

Michael Soulen, MD

Thomas Jefferson University, Dept of Radiology

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107

Contacts

Flemming Forsberg, PhD

215-955-4870flemming.forsberg@jefferson.edu

Cynthia Miller, RN

215-955-8108Cynthia.L.Miller.3@jefferson.edu

Principal Investigator:

Flemming Forsberg, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

Thomas Jefferson University

Last update posted

Feb 11, 2025

Last verified

Jan, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Thomas Jefferson University on 2025-02-11.