Research Article Details
Article ID: | A23836 |
PMID: | 23439261 |
Source: | J Hepatol |
Title: | The liver diseases of lipodystrophy: the long-term effect of leptin treatment. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND & AIMS: Lipodystrophies are hypoleptinemic conditions characterized by fat loss, severe insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and ectopic fat accumulation. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) are also features of this condition. We studied the spectrum of liver disease in lipodystrophy and the effects of leptin replacement. METHODS: This was an open-label, prospective study of leptin therapy in patients with inherited and acquired lipodystrophy at the National Institutes of Health. Liver biopsies were performed at baseline (N=50) and after leptin replacement (N=27). NASH activity was assessed using the NASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) scoring system. Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, hemoglobin A1c and liver enzymes were measured at baseline and at the time of the final liver biopsy. RESULTS: In leptin-treated patients, 86% met criteria for NASH at baseline, while only 33% had NASH after leptin replacement for 25.8 ± 3.7 months (mean ± SE, p=0.0003). There were significant improvements in steatosis grade (reduction of mean score from 1.8 to 0.9) and ballooning injury scores (from 1.2 to 0.4), with a 44.2% reduction in mean NAFLD activity score (p<0.0001). Patients who already had fibrosis remained stable on leptin replacement. We observed significant improvement in metabolic profile, ALT and AST. In addition to NASH, four patients with acquired generalized lipodystrophy (AGL) had autoimmune hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS: The fundamental liver disease of lipodystrophy is NASH, although autoimmune hepatitis was observed in some patients with AGL. Leptin appears to be a highly effective therapy for NASH in hypoleptinemic lipodystrophic patients. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhep.2013.02.007 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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 |
I06 | 811 | Lipodystrophy | A connective tissue disease that is characterized by marked reduction, absence, and/or the redistribution of adipose tissue. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25690482, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25833179 | disease of anatomical entity/ musculoskeletal system disease/ connective tissue disease | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D545 | Pig placenta extract | Biological extract | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
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 |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D094 | Cysteamine | Chemical drug | DB00847 | GSS stimulant | Renal drug | Under clinical trials | Details |
D095 | Cysteamine bitartrate | Chemical drug | DB00847 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |