Steatohepatitis/Metabolic Liver Disease News

DENVER — A low weekly dose of semaglutide can safely minimize what used to be called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in people with HIV, a first-of-its-kind study found.

Researchers have estimated that annual costs associated with alcohol-associated liver disease will climb from $31 billion in 2022 to $66 billion in 2040 — a 118% increase — with costs among women accounting for 43% of the total expenditure.

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.

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.