Wang W, Cooper C. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes: A dual threat to cardiac dysfunction progression. World J Cardiol 2025; 17(1): 102467 [PMID: 39866212 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v17.i1.102467]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Wei Wang, Chronic Disease and Health Management Research Center, Geriatric Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 30 Luojia Road, Nanjing 210024, Jiangsu Province, China. wwtxdy@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Cardiol. Jan 26, 2025; 17(1): 102467 Published online Jan 26, 2025. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v17.i1.102467
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes: A dual threat to cardiac dysfunction progression
Wei Wang, Charlie Cooper
Wei Wang, Charlie Cooper, Chronic Disease and Health Management Research Center, Geriatric Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210024, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Wang W designed the editorial and wrote the manuscript; Cooper C edited the manuscript; all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Wei Wang, Chronic Disease and Health Management Research Center, Geriatric Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 30 Luojia Road, Nanjing 210024, Jiangsu Province, China. wwtxdy@163.com
Received: October 21, 2024 Revised: December 2, 2024 Accepted: December 13, 2024 Published online: January 26, 2025 Processing time: 94 Days and 22.3 Hours
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is increasingly recognized as a multi-system disease that affects both hepatic and cardiovascular health. This study explores the association between MASLD-related liver fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction, focusing on how liver fibrosis contributes to cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Cernea et al’s research highlights the strong correlation between liver fibrosis and changes in left ventricular mass, left atrial dimensions, and systolic and diastolic function in diabetic patients. Notably, the study suggests a protective role of sex-hormone binding protein against cardiac remodeling. These findings underline the importance of early detection of liver fibrosis using non-invasive markers like fibrosis-4 index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis scores, which may offer dual protection for both liver and heart health in T2DM patients. Moreover, this study calls for further research into the shared pathogenic mechanisms, including inflammation and fibrosis pathways, between the liver and heart. It advocates for the integration of liver fibrosis screening into cardiovascular risk management, urging clinicians to adopt a more holistic approach in treating patients with MASLD and T2DM. The research has broad implications for preventing cardiovascular complications and improving outcomes in this high-risk population.
Core Tip: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), both components of metabolic syndrome, are increasingly recognized for their synergistic impact on cardiovascular health. The intertwined relationship between these conditions amplifies the risk of cardiovascular disease, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies to mitigate this dual threat. Through a comprehensive evaluation of Cernea et al’s study on the combination of MASLD and T2DM in promoting cardiac dysfunction, this editorial provides a comprehensive review of the current research on MASLD and cardiovascular disease, a discussion of the progress made in this field, and the potential directions for future research.
