Investigating immune tolerance in children after liver transplantation

Immune Tolerance After Pediatric Liver transplantation-a Cohort Study

RenJi Hospital · NCT05501301

This study is testing how well children's immune systems can accept a new liver without medication after a liver transplant to see if it's safe and effective for them.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages1 Year to 18 Years
SexAll
SponsorRenJi Hospital (other)
Locations1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai)
Trial IDNCT05501301 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to assess the ratio and safety of spontaneous immune tolerance in pediatric liver transplantation recipients. It focuses on children aged 4 months to 18 years who have undergone living donor liver transplantation and have maintained stable liver function for over three months. The study will monitor participants who are either on monotherapy of immunosuppressive agents or have ceased taking them altogether. By constructing an immune tolerance cohort, the research seeks to understand the factors contributing to immune tolerance and its long-term safety.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 4 months to 18 years who have undergone living donor liver transplantation and have stable liver function.

Not a fit: Patients with tumors, hepatitis virus infections, or those who have undergone ABO incompatible or multiple organ transplantation will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to reduced reliance on immunosuppressive medications, minimizing long-term side effects for pediatric liver transplant recipients.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of immune tolerance in liver transplantation has been explored, this specific approach focusing on pediatric patients and long-term safety is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age at liver transplantation: 4 months to 18 years;
2. Original disease before liver transplantation: End-stage liver diseases including cholestatic diseases or metabolic diseases;
3. Type of liver transplantation: living donor liver transplantation, with donors of recipient's parents
4. Follow-up time after liver transplantation: more than one year
5. Liver function: liver function maintains normal and stable 3 months before enrollment
6. IS strategy: monotherapy of IS (FK or cyclosporine) or no longer taking any IS
7. Liver biopsy: No signs of acute rejection or chronic rejection, and no obvious fibrosis (Ishak\<2)
8. Written consents are required

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Original disease before liver transplantation: Tumor, hepatitis virus infection, autoimmune hepatitis, liver failure, secondary liver transplantation
2. Type of liver transplantation: ABO incompatible liver transplantation, donors are not recipient's parents or multiple organ transplantation
3. Hepatitis virus infection during follow-up
4. Severe compilations, including bleeding complication, biliary complication, vessel complication or renal dysfunction -

Where this trial is running

Shanghai, Shanghai

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Immune Tolerance, Liver Transplant, Complications, immune tolerance, pediatric liver transplantation

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.