Scientists probe genetic secrets of fatty liver transplants
NCT ID NCT07362745
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study looked at 300 liver transplant cases to understand why donor livers with fatty liver disease are more likely to be injured after transplantation. Researchers compared genetic activity in archived tissue samples from 50 cases, using advanced techniques to identify which cells and genes play a role. The goal is to find molecular clues that could help predict transplant success and improve donor liver selection.
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 help doctors better predict which fatty livers are safe to transplant, potentially expanding the donor pool and reducing waitlist deaths.
- What could go wrong
- This is a retrospective analysis of existing data, not a treatment trial. Findings may not translate into immediate clinical changes, and the small number of tissue samples (50) limits how broadly the results can be applied.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
300 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2015
- Finished
-
Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
This retrospective, single-center observational cohort study will enroll 300 adult liver transplant recipients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University. The study population consists of patients aged 18-80 years with end-stage liver disease requiring orthotopic liver transplantation. Participants will be naturally grouped based on donor liver characteristics into: (1) steatotic donor liver recipients (donor livers with macrovesicular steatosis ≥5%), and (2) normal donor liver recipients (donor livers with steatosis \<5%). All participants must have stable vital signs and be medically fit to tolerate liver transplantation surgery. The two groups (steatotic donor liver recipients vs. normal donor liver recipients) will be matched based on donor age, ischemia time, recipient scores, and other key clinical parameters to control for potential confounding variables.
- Ages
-
18 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Recipient Criteria: * Participant (or legal representative if unable to read/sign) provides written informed consent * Age 18-80 years (inclusive) at time of enrollment * Clinical diagnosis of liver failure requiring liver transplantation * Stable vital signs and deemed medically fit to tolerate liver transplantation surgery Donor Criteria: * Fatty degeneration range: Macrovesicular steatosis 0-30% * Donor age: ≤60 years * Cold ischemia time (CIT): ≤12 hours for deceased donors * Liver function: ALT/AST \<5 times upper limit of normal Exclusion Criteria: Recipient Criteria: * Pregnant or lactating women * Prior history of non-autologous (allogeneic) bone marrow or stem cell transplantation * Blood transfusion within 7 days prior to tissue sampling * Radical cancer treatment within 3 years prior to enrollment * Use of anti-tumor medications within 30 days prior to enrollment * Known bleeding diathesis or coagulation disorder * Active autoimmune disease * Concurrent malignancy or multiple primary tumors Donor Criteria: * Fibrosis: Any degree of hepatic fibrosis * Steatohepatitis: Presence of lobular inflammation or hepatocyte ballooning * Active infection: HBV, HCV, or HIV positive * Severe fatty liver-related comorbidities: Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c\>8%), severe hyperlipidemia
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for End-stage liver disease are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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
Locations
-
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University
Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can better training get doctors to talk about what matters most to dying veterans?
- A standard IV fluid dose may reveal who is at risk after bowel surgery
- Can a Once-Daily form of tacrolimus spare liver transplant patients from side effects?
- Can a dissolvable bone wax curb bleeding during spine fusion?
- Can a safer opioid choice stop Kids' Post-Surgery agitation?
- Can a different anesthesia approach tame inflammation after chest surgery?