New ultrasound imaging to detect liver scarring and high blood pressure in liver veins

This trial is testing a new ultrasound imaging method called SHAPE (Subharmonic Aided Pressure Estimation) combined with a contrast medication called Definity to help doctors detect portal hypertension — a condition where blood pressure builds up in the veins connected to your liver. The researchers want to see if this new imaging technique can reliably identify patients with this serious condition and give doctors more confidence in their diagnosis.

Portal hypertension is a serious complication of liver disease, but detecting it reliably can be difficult. This trial is exploring whether this new ultrasound imaging approach combined with the medication can give doctors a better, faster way to identify the condition without relying solely on more invasive tests.