Long-term follow-up of people with fatty liver disease in China
Follows adults with fatty liver disease to track liver and heart complications over time.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: A Prospective Cohort Study of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease in China
Key facts
- Where
- Guangzhou, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with fatty liver (fat build-up in the liver), confirmed by an ultrasound, scan, liver test or biopsy.
- Age
- 18 Years to 80 Years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Fatty liver in adults, shown by at least one of these: bright liver on ultrasound, CAP of 248dB/m or more, fatty liver on CT/MRI/MRS, MRI-PDFF liver fat above 8%, or fatty liver on liver biopsy.
- Biomarker or test result
- CAP (a liver scan reading) of 248dB/m or more, or MRI-PDFF liver fat content above 8%, if this is the way fatty liver is shown.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Liver cancer or another cancer
- Pregnancy
- History of liver transplant
- Serious heart or brain blood vessel events, such as heart attack, cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT04573283, who can take part
Where in China
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhou, ChinaContact: Jinjun ChenTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
- Trial code
- NCT04573283
- Record updated
- 9 February 2021
- Original description
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new concept proposed in 2020. Unlike non-alcoholic fatter liver disease (NAFLD), the diagnosis of MAFLD requires the presence any of the following 3 metabolic risks, including overweight/obesity, presence of diabetes mellitus, and evidence of metabolic dysregulation. However, there are patients that have hepatic steatosis but no metabolic risk, who thus do not meet the diagnostic criteria of MAFLD. Besides, there are patients with both MAFLD and other liver diseases. The clinical features and the management of these patients remain unclear. Thus, further histopathological and clinical study is required to elucidate and compare the characteristics of MAFLD and NAFLD.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Prospective Cohort Study of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease in China
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new concept proposed in 2020. Unlike non-alcoholic fatter liver disease (NAFLD), the diagnosis of MAFLD requires the presence any of the following 3 metabolic risks, including overweight/obesity, presence of diabetes mellitus, and evidence of metabolic dysregulation. However, there are patients that have hepatic steatosis but no metabolic risk, who thus do not meet the diagnostic criteria of MAFLD. Besides, there are patients with both MAFLD and other liver diseases. The clinical features and the management of these patients remain unclear. Thus, further histopathological and clinical study is required to elucidate and compare the characteristics of MAFLD and NAFLD.
Here, in this single-center, prospective clinical study, investigators are planning to establish a long-term follow-up cohort of patients with either MAFLD or NAFLD. In order to understand the risk of developing liver-related complications and important extra-hepatic outcomes (e.g. cardiovascular disease), and also to better elucidate the risk of disease progression in "lean" NAFLD individuals without any metabolic dysregulation and MAFLD individuals with dual or multiple causes.
Ultimately, investigators aim to improve the diagnosis of MAFLD and improve patients' outcomes.
Inclusion: Diagnosed as hepatic steatosis in adults (fulfill at least one of the followings):; Liver ultrasound shows liver parenchymal hyperechoic or "bright liver"; Controlled attenuation-parameter (CAP) ≥248dB/m; Hepatic steatosis diagnosed by CT/MRI/MRS; MRI-based proton-density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) shows liver fat content>8%; Fatty liver confirmed by liver histology.
Exclusion: Diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma or other malignancy (in accordance with the appropriate diagnostic criteria); Patients with history of liver transplantation; Patients with serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (such as acute myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.); During pregnancy.