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World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. Feb 6, 2011; 2(1): 1-5
Published online Feb 6, 2011. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v2.i1.1
Published online Feb 6, 2011. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v2.i1.1
Is there any progress in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Emmanuel A Tsochatzis, George V Papatheodoridis, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Tsochatzis EA and Papatheodoridis GV wrote this editorial.
Correspondence to: George V Papatheodoridis, MD, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, 114 Vas. Sophias Ave., 115 27 Athens, Greece. gepapath@med.uoa.gr
Telephone: +30-210-7774742 Fax: +30-210-7706871
Received: June 26, 2010
Revised: December 15, 2010
Accepted: December 22, 2010
Published online: February 6, 2011
Revised: December 15, 2010
Accepted: December 22, 2010
Published online: February 6, 2011
Abstract
Despite the fact that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its severe clinical form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, are becoming increasingly prevalent in the industrialised countries, there are no licensed pharmacological treatments for them. Weight loss and life modifications, antioxidant therapies and insulin-sensitising agents are the current treatment strategies and have all been tested with inconclusive results. Low sample numbers, inadequate treatment duration and invalid surrogate markers for treatment response might all account for these results. As NAFLD is a systemic rather than a liver disease, future trials should address the patient as a whole and also address cardiovascular risk factors.
Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; Weight loss; Pioglitazone; Metformin