Screening for advanced liver fibrosis in patients with fatty liver disease or alcohol-related liver issues

Screening in Primary Care of Advanced Liver Fibrosis in NAFLD And/or Alcoholic Patients

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital, Angers · NCT05699018

This study is testing two blood tests to see which one better helps doctors find advanced liver damage in people with fatty liver disease or alcohol-related liver problems.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment1788 (estimated)
Ages40 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Angers Government
Drugs / interventionsmethotrexate
Locations12 sites (Angers and 11 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05699018 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to compare two blood tests, eLIFT and FibroMeter, for detecting advanced liver fibrosis in patients suffering from Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and/or Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) in primary care settings. Chronic liver diseases are a significant health concern in France, leading to thousands of deaths annually, and many patients remain undiagnosed until complications arise. By utilizing non-invasive blood tests, the study seeks to improve early identification of patients who need specialist referral, thereby enhancing management and outcomes. General practitioners will be equipped with a simpler and more accessible method for screening liver fibrosis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults diagnosed with NAFLD and/or ALD, particularly those with risk factors such as excessive alcohol consumption or metabolic syndrome.

Not a fit: Patients without NAFLD or ALD, or those who do not meet the inclusion criteria, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to earlier diagnosis and better management of liver fibrosis, potentially reducing the incidence of cirrhosis and improving patient survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using non-invasive blood tests for liver fibrosis screening, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* NAFLD and/or ALD patient defined by at least 1 of the following criteria:

  * Excessive alcohol consumption: higher than 210 g / week (men), or 140 g / week (women)
  * Type 2 diabetes
  * at least 2 metabolic factors among BMI higher than or equal to 25 kg / m 2; Elevated blood pressure (antihypertensive drug, or systolic blood pressure higher than or equal to 130mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure higher than or equal to 85mmHg), Dyslipidemia (lipid-lowering drug, or HDL cholesterol lower to 40mg/dl (men) / 50mg/dl (women), or triglycerides higher than or equal to150mg/dl); Hyperferritinemia (higher than upper limit of normal from the laboratory)
  * Bright liver at ultrasonography without steatosis-inducing drug(systemic corticosteroids, tamoxifen, amiodarone, methotrexate)

Following a protocol amendment, the 3 last investigating primary care centres will include NAFLD and/or ALD patients according to these updated criteria:

* Excessive alcohol consumption: \>210 g/week in men or \>140 g/week in women,
* AND/OR type 2 diabetes treated with insulin and/or at least two other anti-diabetic treatments,
* AND with the following stratification:

  40% with excessive alcohol consumption 40% with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin and/or at least two other anti-diabetic treatments 20% with both conditions (excessive alcohol consumption, AND type 2 diabetes treated with insulin and/or at least two other anti-diabetic treatments)
* Patient's agreement to have a blood sample collected in a local laboratory participating in the study
* Subjects covered by or having the rights to medical care assurance
* Written informed consent obtained from subject

Exclusion Criteria:

* Already ongoing specialized follow-up for a chronic liver disease
* Altered health status with poor short-term prognosis, not compatible with a screening procedure
* Decompensated cirrhosis (hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatorenal syndrome)
* Acute infection
* Pregnancy, breastfeeding
* Persons in detention by judicial or administrative decision
* Person admitted to a health or social establishment for purposes other than research
* Person subject to a legal protection measure
* Person unable to express consent

Where this trial is running

Angers and 11 other locations

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.
Conditions Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseAlcoholic Liver DiseaseLiver Fibrosis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.