MRI biomarkers to detect NASH in adults with fatty liver
Official title: Exploratory Study of MRI Biomarkers of NASH
Run by University Hospital, Angers · NCT06626074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try MRI measurements to see if they can detect NASH in adults with fatty liver who are already scheduled for a liver biopsy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 110 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Angers Government |
| Locations | 2 sites (Angers, France and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 5, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 5, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 6, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | June 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06626074 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults in the Angers SNIFF cohort with suspected NASH who are scheduled for a diagnostic liver biopsy and can safely undergo MRI are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People who cannot have an MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia), pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with more than a three-month gap between biopsy and MRI, or those excluded for legal or insurance reasons are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-center exploratory project will use quantitative MRI sequences to look for imaging biomarkers that correlate with histologic NASH in adults with metabolic steatosis. Participants will be drawn from the Angers SNIFF cohort and will undergo MRI within three months of a clinically indicated liver biopsy. Imaging measures (fat quantification, stiffness-related and other quantitative MRI parameters) will be compared to biopsy results to identify signatures of inflammation and early fibrosis. The goal is to determine whether MRI can noninvasively indicate NASH and reduce reliance on biopsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MRI biomarkers could allow diagnosis of NASH without liver biopsy, reducing invasive procedures and their risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown MRI reliably quantifies liver fat and stiffness, but no MRI biomarker has yet been proven to diagnose NASH (inflammation/ballooning) without biopsy.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient included in the SNIFF cohort of the Angers hospital where there is a suspicion of NASH requiring a biopsy for which an MRI is requested by a hepatologist as part of the initial assessment of the disease. * Adult patient * Free, informed and express (oral) consent of the patient to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to MRI * Time between the establishment of the Steatosis/NASH status and the MRI greater than 3 months * Pregnant, parturient and breastfeeding woman * Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision * Person under compulsion to psychiatric care * Person subject to a legal protection measure * Person not affiliated or not covered by a social security scheme.
Where it's running
-
University Hospital, Angers
Angers, France, France Recruiting -
CHU de Rennes
Rennes, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Anita PAISANT, MD — University Hospital, Angers
- Study coordinator: Anita PAISANT, MD
- Email: anita.paisant@chu-angers.fr
- Phone: 0241353637
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.