Pathology and physiology of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD)

Characterize the underlying pathology and physiology that lead to Fontan-associated liver disease in patients with single-ventricle Fontan circulation.

Background

FALD is prevalent among patients with Fontan circulation, yet the detailed mechanisms driving its onset and progression remain insufficiently resolved. Existing studies often extrapolate from other liver diseases or animal models, leaving gaps in understanding how Fontan-specific hemodynamics contribute to liver injury.

A comprehensive characterization of FALD pathology and physiology would enable targeted diagnostics and therapies tailored to the unique circulatory features of Fontan patients.

References

Currently, the underlying pathology and physiology of FALD are not fully understood.

— A One Dimensional (1D) Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Fontan-Associated Liver Disease (FALD) (2501.12396 - Li et al., 6 Jan 2025) in Introduction (Section 1)