Amino acid supplements after a liver shunt procedure in cirrhosis with muscle loss
Tests branched-chain amino acid supplements after TIPS in cirrhosis patients with sarcopenia.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: TIPS With or Without BCAA
Key facts
- Where
- Wuhan, 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 aged 18 to 80 with cirrhosis and sarcopenia (muscle loss). They are in hospital for variceal bleeding or refractory ascites and meet the indications for a TIPS procedure.
- Age
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Cirrhosis with sarcopenia, admitted for variceal bleeding or refractory ascites and meeting the indications for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Child-Pugh score must not be above 13 points.
- Earlier treatment
- People cannot have used a high-energy and high-protein diet, calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or protein or amino acid supplements in the 3 months before the study.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Hepatocellular carcinoma or other malignant tumors
- Severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency
- Spontaneous recurrent hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
- Sepsis or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)
- Allergy to any component of the study nutritional supplement
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: NCT07281846, who can take part
Where in China
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, ChinaContact: Yaowei BaiTaking 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
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Trial code
- NCT07281846
- Record updated
- 15 December 2025
- Original description
Cirrhosis is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic liver disease patients, accounting for 2.4% of global deaths in 2019. A 1990-2017 Global Burden of Disease study showed rising cirrhosis-related deaths, bringing heavy health and economic burdens. It often leads to portal hypertension and subsequent complications like ascites, gastroesophageal variceal bleeding (20% 6-week mortality), and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an important treatment for variceal bleeding and refractory ascites per guidelines from EASL, AASLD, and the Chinese Medical Association.Read full original descriptionShow less
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt With or Without Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplements in the Treatment of Patients With Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension Complicated by Sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Cirrhosis is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic liver disease patients, accounting for 2.4% of global deaths in 2019. A 1990-2017 Global Burden of Disease study showed rising cirrhosis-related deaths, bringing heavy health and economic burdens. It often leads to portal hypertension and subsequent complications like ascites, gastroesophageal variceal bleeding (20% 6-week mortality), and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an important treatment for variceal bleeding and refractory ascites per guidelines from EASL, AASLD, and the Chinese Medical Association.
Malnutrition affects 20% of compensated and over 50% of decompensated cirrhotic patients; sarcopenia (severe malnutrition) is linked to higher cirrhosis-related complications, impaired quality of life, survival, and poor prognosis in TIPS-treated patients. Thus, concurrent sarcopenia intervention during TIPS may improve outcomes.
Baveno VII, EASL, and AASLD guidelines recommend branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and leucine-rich supplements for decompensated cirrhosis to ensure adequate nitrogen intake. RCT evidence shows BCAAs improve skeletal muscle index (SMI) in cirrhotic patients with sarcopenia and reduce HE risk, but evidence for TIPS-treated patients is lacking. This study aims to compare muscle mass changes and clinical prognosis between TIPS patients with sarcopenia, portal hypertension, and variceal bleeding who receive TIPS with or without BCAA supplements.
Inclusion: Age between 18 and 80 years old; Diagnosed with cirrhosis complicated by sarcopenia; Patients admitted due to variceal bleeding or refractory ascites who meet the indications for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).
Exclusion: Hepatocellular carcinoma and/or other malignant tumors; Severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency; Allergy to any component of the study nutritional supplement; High-energy and high-protein diet or use of calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or protein/amino acid supplements within 3 months prior to the study; Child-Pugh score > 13 points; Spontaneous recurrent hepatic encephalopathy (HE); Large spontaneous portosystemic shunt; Sepsis; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).