Understanding Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Children

Prospective Observational Study of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in Children

This study is trying to learn more about how primary sclerosing cholangitis affects children by collecting health information and samples to understand the disease better and its connection to other conditions.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 1000 (estimated)
• Ages: 2 Years to 25 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Arbor Research Collaborative for Health (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: radiation
• Locations: 12 sites (Los Angeles, California and 11 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04181138 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study focuses on pediatric primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease that affects bile ducts. It aims to collect medical data and specimens from children diagnosed with PSC to better understand the disease's progression and its impact on daily life. The study will explore risk factors for rapid disease progression, the relationship between PSC and inflammatory bowel disease, and utilize novel imaging techniques to assess liver fibrosis. Additionally, a biobank will be established for future research into biomarkers and disease mechanisms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 2 to 25 years with a clinical diagnosis of large or small duct PSC.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a diagnosis of PSC or are outside the age range of 2 to 25 years may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved understanding and management of PSC in children, potentially enhancing their quality of life and treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While the study addresses a rare condition with limited prior research, similar observational studies in other pediatric liver diseases have shown promise in understanding disease mechanisms and improving patient care.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with the clinical diagnosis of large or small duct PSC made at any time prior to enrollment are screened for eligibility to participate in this prospective cohort study. The site PI will determine eligibility following review of MRCP or ERCP images with the site radiologist to confirm presence of an abnormal cholangiogram at the time of diagnosis of large duct PSC. Liver histopathology obtained at the time of diagnosis of small duct PSC will be reviewed with the site pathologist prior to enrollment.

Individuals must meet all of the Inclusion criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the study:

1. Aged 2 through 25 years at time of screening.
2. Diagnosis of large duct PSC based on review of cholangiogram by MRC, ERC, or intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) by the site radiologist and interpreted to be consistent with PSC, based on one or more of the following:

   * Focal structuring of the bile duct(s)
   * Dominant stricture of the common bile duct
   * Saccular dilatation of bile duct(s)
   * Beaded appearance of bile duct(s)
   * Pruning appearance of the distal bile duct branches

   AND/OR
3. Diagnosis of small duct PSC based on review of liver histopathology by the site pathologist and interpreted to be compatible with PSC:

   * Probable small duct PSC: biopsy with ≥3 of 5 criteria: periductal edema, concentric inflammation, bile duct injury, ductular reaction, and neutrophils in bile ducts (cholangitis) OR...
   * Definitive small duct PSC: Periductal fibrosis/ "onion skinning" around interlobular bile ducts or smaller profiles
4. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
5. Able to provide informed consent/assent

Participants for the imaging study are eligible if they are:

1. Aged 8 through 25 years at the time of screening
2. No absolute contraindication to MRI
3. No skin condition that could be aggravated by MREL
4. Meet all other eligibility criteria of the PSC Observational Study
5. For whom none of the exclusion criteria apply

Exclusion Criteria:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria at baseline will be excluded from participation in this study.

1. History of liver transplantation
2. History bone marrow transplantation
3. History of primary or acquired immunodeficiency predisposing to secondary sclerosing cholangitis, for instance: hyper-IgM syndrome, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) syndrome, common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) syndrome, cartilage hair hypoplasia syndrome, or HIV/AIDS
4. History of histiocytosis, including Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
5. History of ischemic cholangitis
6. History of portal vein thrombosis with biliopathy, veno-occlusive disease, or abdominal radiation vasculopathy
7. History of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis
8. History of biliary tract surgery for cholecystolithiasis prior to cholangiogram/liver biopsy evaluated to determine enrollment
9. History of biliary tract surgery for choledochal cyst
10. History of hepatocellular carcinoma, or hepatoblastoma
11. History of surgical biliary trauma
12. History of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis
13. History of Sickle Cell Disease
14. History of cystic fibrosis, biliary atresia, Caroli disease/congenital hepatic fibrosis, or progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3/MDR3 disease
15. History of cardiac hepatopathy.
16. History of metabolic disorders, including Wilson's disease, glycogen storage disorder, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency
17. Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
18. Concurrent pregnancy at the time of enrollment -

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California and 11 other locations

• Children's Hospital of Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
• Children's Hospital Colorado — Aurora, Colorado, United States (Recruiting)
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta — Atlanta, Georgia, United States (Recruiting)
• Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
• Riley Hospital for Children — Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (Completed)
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
• The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
• UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
• Texas Children's Hospital (Baylor College of Medicine) — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
• The University of Utah — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)
• Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, Washington, United States (Recruiting)
• The Hospital for Sick Children — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Completed)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: John Magee, MD — University of Michigan
• Study coordinator: Terese A Howell, BS, CCRC

Conditions Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis; Liver Diseases; Cholangitis, Sclerosing; Pediatric Liver Disease