The Korean Journal of Medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Pharmacologic Therapy for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

비알코올 지방간 질환의 약물치료

  • Park, Sang Hoon (Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine)
  • 박상훈 (한림대학교 의과대학 강남성심병원 소화기내과)
  • Published : 2014.04.01
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Abstract

Weight loss via lifestyle modification remains the most efficient treatment for NAFLD. Weight loss and exercise are the cornerstones of therapy, but achieving long-term lifestyle modification is not free from difficulties. Pharmacologic therapy should be considered for patients with NAFLD unable to achieve or maintain lifestyle-induced weight loss. Unfortunately, there is no approved drug for NAFLD currently. Current treatment methods for NAFLD can be divided roughly into those methods that target components of metabolic syndrome using weight reduction and insulin sensitizers (pioglitazone) and those that use antioxidants (Vitamin E) to benefit the liver. Pioglitazone has been shown to improve steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and inflammation and also to reduce the risk of fibrosis progression in several randomized-controlled trials (RCTs). In a large RCT, large doses of vitamin E improved all histological lesions except for fibrosis. Compared with a placebo, Metformin lowered ALT, but did not improve liver histology. Recently, novel anti-diabetic agents (GLP-1 analogues, DPP IV inhibitors) and probiotics that alter the gut microbiome were shown to mildly benefit ALT and liver histology. In this report, we systemically review current pharmacologic therapies and other promising agents that were not considered in the most recent guidelines for the treatment of NAFLD.

Keywords

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