Liver/Biliary Disorders News

Resmetirom 80 mg and 100 mg outperformed placebo in disease resolution and improvement in liver fibrosis among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, according to 52-week results from the MAESTRO-NASH trial.

Topline findings from a phase 2 trial showed that survodutide achieved “statistically significant improvement” for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis in 83% of patients, Boehringer Ingelheim announced.

Around 17% of patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease have or will be diagnosed with alcohol-related disease, which research shows is associated with a threefold higher rate of developing cirrhosis or cancer.

Increased intake of dietary niacin may reduce the risk for all-cause mortality but not cardiovascular disease-related mortality among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, data showed.

An analysis of ED utilization from 2016 to 2019 revealed an increase in visits for alcohol-associated hepatitis, particularly among patients aged 25 to 44 years, as well as an increase in disease severity.

In a Healio video exclusive, Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, urged gastroenterologists to familiarize themselves with a “four-pronged approach to liver disease” ahead of the critical shortage of U.S. hepatologists expected by 2033.

Chronic liver disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States, independent of liver cancer. According to the CDC, only 1.8% of adult Americans have a diagnosis of chronic liver disease, which translates to 4.5 million people.

The role of gastroenterologists and hepatologists in the management of patients at risk for or with hepatocellular carcinoma is multifold.

Finding adequate providers with the expertise to treat the growing population of patients with chronic liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, is a challenging but important endeavor.

Alcohol use disorder has a huge impact on liver health. Regardless of whether patients have other primary etiology for liver disease, alcohol — even in minimal amounts — can worsen liver outcomes.