Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.
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Join our study on obesity, liver fat, and growth hormone!
This project is not recruiting.
Overview
What we are studying
Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston are studying obesity, liver fat and liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as fatty liver, is a common liver condition in overweight and obese adults. It can cause inflammation and fibrosis of the liver. You may be eligible if you are between 18 and 65 years old and have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or are overweight. The goal of this study is to investigate growth hormone as a possible treatment for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. This study includes six visits over eight months with compensation up to $1000 and additional travel reimbursement. We also have a liver biopsy substudy (optional) with compensation up to an additional $1000 (total of $2000)
Why it is important
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is fatty infiltration of the liver in the absence of alcohol use. NAFLD is an increasingly recognized complication of obesity, affecting about 30% of individuals in the United States. A subset of this fatty liver population will develop progressive disease in the form of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to cirrhosis and end stage liver disease. NASH cirrhosis is expected to be the most common indication for liver transplantation by the year 2025. We are looking at growth hormone as a treatment for NAFLD. There are currently no FDA approved treatments for NAFLD.
What we hope to accomplish
We hope to learn more about effects of growth hormone on liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis. Our substudy, which involves liver biopsies and is an optional part of this study, may tell us more about the role growth hormone has on a cellular level.
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Principal Investigator
Who can participate
Individuals who are between the ages of 18-65, are overweight, do not have diabetes, and do not have a history of cancer may be eligible for this study. You may already have a diagnosis nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from your doctor. We can also do an abdominal ultrasound at the screening visit if you do not currently have a clinical diagnosis. Please contact us if you think you may be eligible.
Healthy Volunteers
Healthy volunteers are eligible for this study
Accepting overweight and obese, but otherwise healthy, volunteers. We are not seeking patients with diabetes.
Who cannot participate
People who are not between the ages of 18 and 65 years old and who do take medication for diabetes. People with a history of cancer (exception: non-melanoma skin cancers). People who cannot have MRIs. People who have active carpal tunnel syndrome. People who take methotrexate, tamoxifen, oral steroids, or oral birth control.
What you may be asked to do
This study involves 6 visits to the Massachusetts General Hospital over 8-9 months. These visits include blood draws, scans such as MRI and CT scans, and office visits with the study doctor and study coordinator. Some participants may be asked if they are interested in participating in a liver biopsy substudy (this is optional and will not affect your participation in the larger study).
Project activities may include:
- Survey
- Biopsy
- Personal health tracking
- Blood draw
- Injection or IV
- Medication
- Ultrasound
- Office visit
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- X-ray
Estimated Time Commitment
6 visits over 8 months
What You May Get
Compensation up to $1000, free parking at MGH and additional travel reimbursement. You will receive $300 for the baseline visit, $100 for each follow-up visit, and $400 for the 6-month study visit. Additional compensation up to $1000 is offered to participants who qualify and complete for the biopsy substudy (total of $2000)
Location
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit St Boston MA 02114
Travel
- Out of state travel possibly reimbursed
- Accessible by public transportation
- Local travel reimbursed
- Parking reimbursed
- Parking available
Travel and Parking Details
You may park at the MGH garages at our main campus location (55 Fruit St) during your study visits.
Additional Information
Funding Source
- NIH or Other Federal
- Foundation