Overview
Early diagnosis of portal hypertension is difficult as symptoms rarely manifest until the later stages of liver disease. Both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension can result in life-threatening complications, the most frequent of which is bleeding from esophageal varices. In children, variceal bleeds are associated with mortality rates of 1-3 %, while life-threatening complications have been reported in up to 20 % of children with cirrhosis. Despite the high incidence of portal hypertension in children with liver disease, a noninvasive modality to monitor disease progression and risk of complications is currently lacking. Hence, this trial will investigate the safety and efficacy of subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) as a noninvasive ultrasound technique for diagnosing portal hypertension in children.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with a diagnosis of chronic liver disease without portal hypertension.
- Patients with a diagnosis of chronic liver disease with portal hypertension.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects who are pregnant.
- Patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to egg phosphatidyl serine or with a history of anaphylactic allergy to eggs or egg products.
- Subjects with allergy to egg products or other components of the ultrasound contrast agents will be excluded.
- History of allergic reaction to Lumason®, sulfur hexafluoride, sulfur hexafluoride lipid microsphere components, or other ingredients in Lumason (polyethylene glycol, distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol sodium (DPPG-Na), palmitic acid)
- History of allergic reaction to Sonazoid
- Patients with biliary atresia with asplenia or polysplenia.
- Patients with prior liver transplant.
- Patients with cystic fibrosis.
- Patients with chronic lung disease.
- Patients with portal vein thrombosis, cavernous transformation of the portal vein or absent portal vein.
- Adults not competent/impaired.
- Patients with significant heart disease or severe congenital heart disease