Research

Pediatric Acute Liver Failure (PALF) Registry

Pediatric Acute Liver Failure (PALF) Study Group Registry and Biological Samples

Protocol Description

This research registry will collect, maintain, analyze, and report clinical, epidemiological and outcome data in pediatric acute liver failure (PALF), including information derived from biospecimens. This registry will be useful for testing hypotheses related to PALF and to identify and define various causes and outcomes of PALF on a national and international scale. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC is the clinical coordinating center of this research registry, comprised of a network of 19 liver centers, which includes three international centers. An estimated 90 to 110 patients will be enrolled across all sites each year.

Eligibility Criteria

With certain restrictions, boys and girls under the age of 18 diagnosed with acute liver failure may be eligible to participate.
Boys: Newborn through 17 years
Girls: Newborn through 17 years

Requirements
Those enrolled in the study will already be hospitalized for their condition. Clinical information including medical history and laboratory and test results will be collected and recorded on data forms that are de-identified. When consent is provided, a blood sample for future research will be collected daily over 7 days when blood is being collected for clinical purposes. Other biospecimens (urine, liver tissue, bile and skin) will be collected for future research, if collected as part of the patient’s care and is extra beyond what is needed for clinical purposes. Additional data forms will be collected at 6 months and 12 months following enrollment.
Visits: None beyond patient’s hospital stay
Duration: 7 days

Status: Open for Enrollment

Source of Support
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Additional Resources
The Pediatric Acute Liver Failure (PALF) Study Web Site