Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists to treat chronic liver disease: real-world evidence or ambiguity?

Chronic liver diseases are prevalent, particularly among patients with type 2 diabetes, who have a higher incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and are subject to other liver diseases.1 With no pharmacotherapy for these liver conditions, recent attention was given to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1a) for their effectiveness in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity and in reducing liver enzyme levels and liver fat levels.2 A 72-week, phase II, placebo-controlled randomised trial in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis found that the GLP1a semaglutide improves the resolution of NASH but does not affect fibrosis regression.2 By its limited size, however, this trial could not provide effectiveness data on major liver outcomes (MALO), such as decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation or liver-related death, despite its long-term follow-up. Non-randomised observational studies can be useful to address such questions. In...
Source: Gut - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Gut Commentary Source Type: research