Prospective Investigation of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy in Humans
Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy (CCM) is a recognized complication of cirrhosis, but understudied despite recent retrospective data suggesting it may be common, affecting one in three patients with decompensated cirrhosis, and associated with significantly increased risk of death and adverse hepatic and cardiac events. Moreover, evidence from preclinical models and children suggest elevated bile acids in the blood may contribute to CCM, but data from adults with cirrhosis are scarce. Therefore, this study will be the first contemporary prospective multicenter investigation of CCM in adults with cirrhosis in the United States. The study will characterize risk factors for CCM, determine its impact on clinical outcomes, and investigate the contribution of circulating bile acids to disease development.
• Decompensated cirrhosis, defined as cirrhosis with current or prior occurrence of one or more of the following:
‣ portal hypertension-related bleeding,
⁃ hepatic encephalopathy, and/or
⁃ clinical ascites.
• Model for End Stage Liver Disease version 3.0 (MELD 3.0) ≥ 15 or Child Pugh Class B-C
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Longitudinal follow up in either at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) or University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) hepatology clinics
• Willing to adhere to study protocol
• Able to provide written informed consent