Comparing Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Liver Biopsy to Evaluate the Liver in Patients With HIV and Hepatitis C Virus

The purpose of this study is to find if the Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scan is as effective as a liver biopsy (using a special needle to remove tissue from the liver) in examining liver damage in patients with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

A standard way to examine the liver for disease has been to perform a liver biopsy. The SPECT scan, which takes a picture of the liver, has been found to be effective in determining liver damage but studies need to be done in patients with hepatitis. This study will compare the effectiveness of the liver biopsy and SPECT scan in determining liver disease in patients with HIV and HCV. The SPECT scan might be a good replacement for the liver biopsy if it is found to be as good as or better than liver biopsies.

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Key information

Conditions

HIV Infections Blood-Borne Infections Communicable Diseases Digestive System Diseases Flaviviridae Infections Genital Diseases Hepatitis Hepatitis C Hepatitis, Viral, Human Immune System Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Infections Lentivirus Infections Liver Diseases RNA Virus Infections Retroviridae Infections Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Urogenital Diseases Virus Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Stanford Univ Med Ctr, Stanford, California, United States

About this study

Assessment with a liver biopsy is currently the standard of practice to determine the status of liver involvement in patients with HCV. A direct comparison between SPECT results and liver pathology has been examined in patients with liver disease other than infectious hepatitis. SPECT has been found to be more accurate than standard liver-spleen scans in assessing liver pathology. While current data suggest that liver pathology may correlate with SPECT, which specific SPECT parameters are predictive of certain hepatic pathology is unknown. The pilot study will compare SPECT parameters with the results of liver biopsies to determine the limitations of SPECT.

All screened patients are registered into Step 1, in which they receive a radioactive tracer injection and SPECT scan. Specific SPECT parameters will be measured to determine a grading scale corresponding to that used in liver biopsy results. Some patients undergoing a second liver biopsy in A5071 are enrolled into Step 2, with permission from protocol co-chairs, in which a pregnancy test and second SPECT scan are performed. Patients are reimbursed for completing each SPECT scan. SPECT scans or copies are reviewed to establish which parameters correspond to category E of the Knodell stage based on severity of fibrosis.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients may be eligible for this study if they:

Are enrolled in, or will soon enroll in, A5071. Patients may be eligible for the study if they are screening for A5071 and have a liver biopsy and SPECT scan but do not enter A5071. Patients who have stopped taking A5071 study drugs may also be eligible.
Have had a liver biopsy, or will soon have a liver biopsy.
Have a SPECT scan either before the liver biopsy or 2 weeks to 8 weeks after a liver biopsy.
Intend to have the SPECT scan within 7 days of study entry.

Exclusion criteria

Patients will not be eligible for this study if they:

Are allergic to chemicals in the radioactive tracer used for the SPECT scan.
Are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

Use of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) as a Noninvasive Alternative to Liver Biopsies in Assessing Liver Involvement in Subjects Coinfected With HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Important dates

First posted: Aug 31, 2001
Registry last updated: Jul 30, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed