ACCESS-ESLD
A rapid, non-invasive, Clinical surveillance for CachExia, Sarcopenia, portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma in End-Stage Liver Disease (ACCESS-ESLD)
Study Design
ACCESS-ESLD is a prospective cohort study using the latest MRI technology to map changes in patients’ body composition and evaluate entirely new methods for early detection and monitoring of end-stage liver disease. Additionally, patients with cirrhosis will be sampled to assess whether biochemical markers can offer improved diagnostics for early detection of liver cancer and/or decompensation.
Cirrhosis (sometimes referred to as liver scarring) carries an increased risk of several serious complications such as abdominal fluid accumulation (ascites), liver cancer, and muscle mass reduction. Due to these risks, liver patients are closely monitored using various methods including ultrasound, gastroscopy, and regular visits to liver clinics. This study evaluates how effectively these complications can be detected and monitored in connection with clinical liver cancer screening every six months.
A total of 150 patients with cirrhosis from the South-Eastern healthcare region will undergo MRI scans twice a year over a two-year period. The MRI protocol used is a short 15-minute procedure including MR contrast, which assesses the liver (for fat, connective tissue, iron, inflammation), total body composition (such as fat volume and muscle mass), nutritional status (availability of nutrients in the body), physical ability, and quality of life.
