Comparison of Selenium Levels in HCV- Infected Patients at Different Stages of Disease

December 13, 2011 updated by: Dominik Bettinger, University Hospital Freiburg

Comparison of Selenium Levels in HCV- Infected Patients at Different Stages of Disease - a Pilot Trial

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising worldwide.One important etiology is a chronic inflammation due to hepatitis c (hcv) infection. Over the steps of a chronic inflammation over the stadium of cirrhosis of the liver it is possible that neoplastic nodules appear in the liver which can rise up to a HCC. In the pathogenesis of HCC oxidative stress seems to play an important role and as selenium is a key micronutrient in this process its levels could differ between the different stages of disease in hcv- infected patients. The aim of this trial is to examine these differences.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising worldwide. Almost all cases of HCC develop over clearly defined stages of chronic hepatic inflammation and cirrhosis of the liver which can be determined as an irreversible stage during this process. In the Western world excessive alcohol consumption and chronic infection with the hepatitis c virus (hcv) are frequent causes of chronic hepatocellular injury. As HCC is often diagnosed at advanced stages and therapeutic intervention possibilities are limited it becomes more and more necessary to search for prevention strategies to stop the development of HCC.

In the last years micronutrients such as selenium have reached the interests of oncologists. Several studies were able to show that there are often low selenium levels in patients with different tumors. Some epidemiologic studies showed that supplementation of selenium can decrease the incidence of some tumors.

Oxidative stress is meant to play an essential role in hepatocarcinogenesis and as selenium could decrease it, it may be possible that patients infected with the hepatitis c - virus show low selenium levels probably as a result of the chronic hepatic inflammation. Moreover there may be differences between the stages of disease namely chronic infection, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this trial is to determine these differences.

HCV- infected patients are enrolled in this trial. Three groups are formed: In Group 1 all HCV- infected patients with a chronic inflammation without cirrhosis of the liver and without HCC are summarized. in group 2 all HCV- infected patients with cirrhosis of the liver but without HCC are enrolled. In group 3 hcv- infected HCC- patients are summarized. In each group 10 patients should be enrolled, matched to age and other diseases. Blood samples are taken from these patients and selenium levels are measured.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

32

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Germany
    • Baden- Württemberg
      • Freiburg, Baden- Württemberg, Germany, 79106
        • University Medical Center Freiburg

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Whole blood samples are taken from inpatients and outpatients of our primary care clinic

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • patients with chronic hepatitis c- infection: no cirrhosis of the liver (= Desmet IV), no HCC - suspected lesion in the liver
  • patients with hcv- associated cirrhosis of the liver: - cirrhosis of the liver confirmed by ultrasound, CT/MRI imaging or biopsy, all child - stages
  • patients with hcv- associated HCC: diagnosis of HCC according to the AASLD criteria, HCC has not been treated at the time of enrollment, all BCLC- /UICC- stages.
  • for all three groups: diagnosis of the chronic hcv- infection with virus rna and serologic parameters (anti-hcv) and abnormal liver function for more than 6 months, no antiviral treatment during the last 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • application of dietary supplements
  • excessive alcohol consumption
  • all other etiologies leading to a liver injury
  • patients with an acute-phase- reaction, SIRS or patients in intensive care units
  • extrahepatic neoplasm
  • rheumatic disease apart from hcv- associated immunologic phenomena
  • diabetes mellitus I and II
  • immunological diseases

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
chronic hcv, no liver cirrhosis, no HCC
patients with chronic hepatitis c- infection: no cirrhosis of the liver (= Desmet IV), no HCC - suspected lesion in the liver
chronic hcv, liver cirrhosis, no HCC
patients with hcv- associated cirrhosis of the liver, but with no HCC - suspected lesions in the liver
hcv-infection, HCC
patients with hcv- associated HCC

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
measurement of selenium levels in hcv- infected patients
Time Frame: baseline
measurement of selenium levels in whole blood samples
baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
selenium levels and inflammatory activity
Time Frame: baseline
determination if there is a correlation between selenium levels and inflammatory activity
baseline
selenium levels and stage of HCC (BCLC, UICC)
Time Frame: baseline
determination if there is a correlation between selenium levels and the stage of HCC (BCLC, UICC)
baseline
selenium levels and MELD(Na)score
Time Frame: baseline
determination if there is a correlation between selenium levels and the MELD(Na)-score
baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Hospital Freiburg

Collaborators

Biosyn

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 6, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 16, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

May 17, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 14, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 13, 2011

Last Verified

December 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HCC1
  • DRKS00000813 (Registry Identifier: German Clinical Trials Register)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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