Clinical Trial: Evaluation of Phlebotomy as a Treatment for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Evaluation of Phlebotomy as a Treatment for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of phlebotomy (blood taking)as a treatment for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Detailed Summary: In this study phlebotomy will be evaluated as a therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a common and important cause of liver disease. Phlebotomy has been used for many years in the treatment of disorders of iron overload such as hemochromatosis, where it is well tolerated and improves symptoms and survival. There is some evidence that it is also effective in treating NAFLD. However, previous studies have not evaluated whether phlebotomy improves liver biopsy findings. We will measure the severity disease in NAFLD patients prior to phlebotomy therapy and again at the end of treatment. This will allow us to accurately determine the benefit of this therapy in these patients.
Sponsor: University of Western Ontario, Canada

Current Primary Outcome: Severity of liver disease [ Time Frame: 6 months after final treatment ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Severity of metabolic disease [ Time Frame: 6 months after final treatment ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Western Ontario, Canada

Dates:
Date Received: March 17, 2008
Date Started: January 2009
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 12, 2016
Last Verified: May 2016