NCT00641524

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

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Western Ontario, Canada · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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 description

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.

Conditions

• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Phlebotomy	Phlebotomy involves the removal of blood (approximately 500mL) each week until body iron levels reach the low-normal level

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-01-01
• Primary completion: 2011-12-01
• Completion: 2011-12-01
• First posted: 2008-03-24
• Last updated: 2016-05-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada