About the Study
Many children with long-term liver disease lose muscle and become weaker, and are more prone to infections. We think these two problems may be linked: when the liver is not working well, the body runs short of energy, and both muscles and the immune system (the body's defence against infection) may suffer. In our study, called TRIAD, we want to find out how liver disease affects muscles and the immune system, and how the two affect each other. We hope this will lead to better nutrition, exercise and treatment plans that help children stay stronger before and after a liver transplant.
Children taking part would have simple tests of muscle strength or development, a body composition scan, and a breathing test that measures how the body uses energy. Blood samples would be taken at routine hospital visits, spread over time so no single sample is large. Babies would have tests just before a normal feed rather than going without food overnight. For children having a liver transplant, a tiny piece of muscle and liver would be taken during the operation, so no extra procedure is needed.
We are not recruiting yet: we would like your views to help us design the study. This questionnaire takes about 5 minutes, is anonymous and is completely optional.
We would love to hear your thoughts. Please answer the questions below as honestly as possible — there are no right or wrong answers.