Could the Body's largest vein replace a Hard-to-Reach one for liver pressure checks?
NCT ID NCT07703540
First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether the inferior vena cava (the body's main vein) can serve as a reliable reference point for measuring blood pressure in the liver during an endoscopic ultrasound. Normally, doctors use a hepatic vein for this, but in people with advanced liver scarring, those veins can be twisted and hard to reach. By comparing pressure readings from both veins in 40 adults already scheduled for the procedure, researchers aim to see if the two measurements are interchangeable. If so, it could lead to a safer, more accessible diagnostic method for portal hypertension.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could make measuring liver blood pressure safer and more reliable for patients with advanced cirrhosis and complex vein anatomy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early study with only 40 participants. The inferior vena cava may not provide interchangeable pressure readings, and the procedure carries risks like bleeding or infection.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University Hospital Muenster
Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, 48149, Germany
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