Structure and composition of cirrhotic portal vein thrombi
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Structure and composition of cirrhotic portal vein thrombi
IRAS ID
259128
Contact name
William Bernal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication in patients with chronic liver disease, where a clot (or 'Thrombus') forms in the main ('Portal') vein that drains blood into the liver. It may contribute to deterioration of liver function, progression of liver disease and complicate liver transplantation. The exact pathogenesis of PVT remains unknown, and there is no consensus on if and how this condition should be treated or prevented.
Current treatment strategies with anticoagulants are only effective in ~50% of patients, suggesting that a PVT may be very different by example from a deep vein thrombus in the leg, which is efficiently treated with anitcoagulants. Importantly, the composition of portal vein thrombi has never been studied in detail. This study aims to increase our knowledge on the pathophysiology of the condition. Analysis on composition and structure will be performed on portal vein thrombi that are removed during liver transplant surgery. This better understanding of the condition may allow in the future for improved preventive and treatment strategies.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0920
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion