UDCA to Prevent Post-TIPS Hepatic Encephalopathy

Summary

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) commonly occurs after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been reported to alleviate neurodegenerative disease recently. This open-label multicenter randomized controlled trial tests whether adding UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) to standard lactulose prophylaxis reduces the incidence of overt HE (OHE; West Haven grade II-IV) after TIPS, compared with lactulose alone. The regimen starts within 72 hours before TIPS and continues for 3 months. The trial aims to evaluate the effect of UDCA in reducing the incidence of post-TIPS OHE.

Timeline

Start

2026-01-01

Primary completion

2027-06-30

Completion

2027-12-31

Publications

• Results Maharshi S, Sharma BC. Prophylaxis of hepatic encephalopathy: current and future drug targets. Hepatol Int. 2024 Aug;18(4):1096-1109. doi: 10.1007/s12072-024-10647-9. Epub 2024 Mar 16.
• Results Kronsten VT, Paintsil EK, Rodrigues S, Seager MJ, Bernal W, Shawcross DL. Hepatic Encephalopathy: When Lactulose and Rifaximin Are Not Working. Gastroenterology. 2025 Jun;168(6):1076-1084.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2025.01.010. Epub 2025 Jan 24. No abstract available.
• Results Djernes L, Vilstrup H, Ott P, Eriksen PL. Blood ammonia concentration measurement - effects of sampling site and cirrhosis during induced hyperammonaemia. Metab Brain Dis. 2024 Nov 20;40(1):21. doi: 10.1007/s11011-024-01442-4.
• Results Shawcross DL, Thabut D, Amodio P. Ammonia - an enduring foe - What evaluating whole body ammonia metabolism can teach us about cirrhosis and therapies treating hepatic encephalopathy. J Hepatol. 2023 Aug;79(2):266-268. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.04.039. Epub 2023 May 12. No abstract available.
• Results Wang X, Luo X, Yang L. Achieving an effective pressure reduction after TIPS: The need for a new target. J Hepatol. 2021 Jul;75(1):246-248. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.02.010. Epub 2021 Feb 20. No abstract available.
• Results Wang X, Liu G, Wu J, Xiao X, Yan Y, Guo Y, Yang J, Li X, He Y, Yang L, Luo X. Small-Diameter Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt versus Endoscopic Variceal Ligation Plus Propranolol for Variceal Rebleeding in Advanced Cirrhosis. Radiology. 2023 Aug;308(2):e223201. doi: 10.1148/radiol.223201.
• Results Xiang Y, Tie J, Wang G, Zhuge Y, Wu H, Zhu X, Xue H, Liu S, Yang L, Xu J, Zhang F, Zhang M, Wei B, Li P, Wang Z, Wu W, Chen C, Yang S, Han Y, Tang C, Qi X, Zhang C. Post-TIPS Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy Increases Long-Term but Not Short-Term Mortality in Cirrhotic Patients With Variceal Bleeding: A Large-Scale, Multicenter Real-World Study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Apr;61(7):1183-1196. doi: 10.1111/apt.18509. Epub 2025 Feb 17.
• Results Liu J, Ma J, Yang C, Chen M, Shi Q, Zhou C, Huang S, Chen Y, Wang Y, Li T, Xiong B. Sarcopenia in Patients with Cirrhosis after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Placement. Radiology. 2022 Jun;303(3):711-719. doi: 10.1148/radiol.211172. Epub 2022 Mar 15.
• Results Lv Y, Wang Q, Luo B, Bai W, Li M, Li K, Wang Z, Xia D, Guo W, Li X, Yuan J, Zhang N, Wang X, Xie H, Pan Y, Nie Y, Yin Z, Fan D, Han G. Identifying the optimal measurement timing and hemodynamic targets of portal pressure gradient after TIPS in patients with cirrhosis and variceal bleeding. J Hepatol. 2025 Feb;82(2):245-257. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.08.007. Epub 2024 Aug 22.
• Results Ehrenbauer AF, Egge JFM, Gabriel MM, Tiede A, Dirks M, Witt J, Wedemeyer H, Maasoumy B, Weissenborn K. Comparison of 6 tests for diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy and predicting clinical outcome: A prospective, observational study. Hepatology. 2024 Aug 1;80(2):389-402. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000770. Epub 2024 Feb 13.
• Results Casadaban LC, Parvinian A, Minocha J, Lakhoo J, Grant CW, Ray CE Jr, Knuttinen MG, Bui JT, Gaba RC. Clearing the Confusion over Hepatic Encephalopathy After TIPS Creation: Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and Clinical Outcomes. Dig Dis Sci. 2015 Apr;60(4):1059-66. doi: 10.1007/s10620-014-3391-0. Epub 2014 Oct 15.

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