Research Article Details
Article ID: | A22879 |
PMID: | 24259612 |
Source: | Ann Pharmacother |
Title: | Resistant nonalcoholic fatty liver disease amelioration with rosuvastatin and pioglitazone combination therapy in a patient with metabolic syndrome. |
Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To report a case describing resolution of persistently elevated aminotransferases in a patient with severe, resistant nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using combination therapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 47-year-old obese male patient presented with a history of elevated aminotransferases and numerous statin intolerances. In addition to worsening control of diabetes and dyslipidemia, severe NAFLD was confirmed. Rosuvastatin was started, which induced short-term elevations in aminotransferases resulting in patient discontinuation. Biochemical markers of NAFLD worsened over time. Therefore, both rosuvastatin 20 mg daily and pioglitazone 15 mg daily were started simultaneously to potentially blunt the early increase in transaminases seen with rosuvastatin. At 2 weeks, the patient's alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) had decreased 57% and 56% from baseline, respectively. By 9 months, the patient's ALT and AST serum concentrations had normalized. Repeat liver ultrasound demonstrated improvement in steatosis grading and reduction in liver size. These improvements occurred despite a 4.5-kg weight gain since starting rosuvastatin and pioglitazone. DISCUSSION: Pharmacotherapy in NAFLD is not well validated, particularly combination therapy. Medications that target obesity-related consequences are commonly used, although evidence regarding biochemical and histological improvement is inconclusive. Consideration should be given to the use of combination of thiazolidinediones and statins for rapid biochemical improvement and long-term histological impact. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in this patient's biochemical and ultrasonographic markers of resistant, severe NAFLD was rapid and sustained with combination therapy. This case represents a potential solution for initiating or maintaining statin therapy in patients with NAFLD who are at high cardiovascular risk. |
DOI: | 10.1177/1060028013507239 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs |
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Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
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I13 | 3146 | Lipid metabolism disorder | An inherited metabolic disorder that involves the creation and degradation of lipids. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipid_metabolism | disease of metabolism/ inherited metabolic disorder | Details |
I12 | 10763 | Hypertension | An artery disease characterized by chronic elevated blood pressure in the arteries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352797 | disease of anatomical entity/ cardiovascular system disease/vascular disease/ artery disease | Details |
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
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D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D366 | Thiazolidinediones | Chemical drug | DB11898 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D275 | Pioglitazone | Chemical drug | DB01132 | PPARG agonist | Improve insulin resistance | Advanced in clinical trials | Details |
D055 | Calcium | Chemical drug | DB01373 | CAST; COMP; CP; BMP4; MGP | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D312 | Rosuvastatin | Chemical drug | DB01098 | HMGCR inhibitor | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D349 | Statins | Miscellany | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |