Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Children
Observational · No treatment assigned · 12 sites · Arbor Research Collaborative for Health
Official record & contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
In plain English
What this trial is testing
Condition(s) listed: Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Liver Diseases and Cholangitis, Sclerosing. This is an observational study: researchers collect information (for example questionnaires, samples, or scans) but the study does not assign a treatment.
Who can join
- Ages 2 to 25
- Any sex
Some of the main requirements, copied from the record:
- 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…
- Individuals must meet all of the Inclusion criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the study:
- Aged 2 through 25 years at time of screening.
- 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
Plus 15 more requirement(s). There are also 19 reasons someone might not be able to join (exclusion criteria). Only the trial team can confirm whether you qualify.
What's involved
- About 1000 participants are expected to take part.
- Start date: 2021-12-30.
- Main results expected around 2029-05-31 (estimate from the record).
- 12 study sites listed (9 marked recruiting) in Canada and United States.
Main thing being measured
- To characterize the major phenotypes of PSC including patients with large duct or small duct disease, with and without Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and with and without Auto Immune Hepatitis… (up to 10 years)
In the researchers’ words
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare liver disease that damages the liver's bile ducts. Bile ducts are tiny tubes that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile is a liquid produced by the liver that helps us absorb and use the nutrients in the food we eat.
Words you might see
- MRCP: an MRI scan of the bile ducts and pancreas.
- ERCP: a procedure using a scope and dye to look at (and sometimes treat) the bile ducts.
- Cholestasis: reduced or blocked flow of bile.
- Stricture: a narrowing (of the bowel or of a bile duct).
- Biopsy / histology: a small tissue sample examined under a microscope.
- Autoimmune hepatitis: a liver disease where the immune system attacks the liver.
General definitions, not specific to this trial.
This summary was written automatically from the official record using fixed templates (no AI), so it only says what the record says, and may leave things out.
Questions to ask your doctor and the trial team
- Am I likely to qualify, given my health history?
- What would I have to do, and how often would I need to visit?
- Could I get a placebo? What happens to my current treatment?
- What are the possible risks and benefits?
- Are travel or other costs covered?
- What happens after the trial ends?
Official details
| Status | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Phase | Observational |
| Study type | Observational |
| Conditions | Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis; Liver Diseases; Cholangitis, Sclerosing |
| Lead sponsor | Arbor Research Collaborative for Health |
| Collaborators | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) |
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Start date | 2021-12-30 |
| Primary completion (est.) | 2029-05-31 |
| First posted | 2019-11-29 |
| Last updated | 2026-07-14 |
| Official title | Prospective Observational Study of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) in Children |
| ClinicalTrials.gov ID | NCT04181138 |
Interventions
- None listed
Full eligibility criteria (from the record)
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 -
Locations (12)
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Completed |
| 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 |
For contacts at each site, use the official record.
Information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor and the trial team before making any decision about a clinical trial.