Research Article Details
Article ID: | A26483 |
PMID: | 20388946 |
Source: | J Physiol Pharmacol |
Title: | Therapy of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: current status. |
Abstract: | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, has become a common entity in clinical practice. In most of the patients it presents as simple steatosis with nonprogressive clinical course. However, some patients have progressive form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and are at increased risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD treatment includes lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy aiming at increasing insulin sensitivity, and attenuating inflammation and hepatic fibrosis. Weight reduction has consistently been shown to reduce levels of liver enzymes and insulin resistance. Although dietary intervention and exercise remain the first-line therapy, due to low patients compliance to these measures pharmacotherapy or surgical approaches are often required. Metformin and thiazolidinediones may improve insulin sensitivity, serum aminotransferase level and liver histology. However, little evidence exists regarding their sustained effects after drug discontinuation which, together with their side effects, limits their widespread use in clinical practice. Statins appear to be safe agents for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, although trials documenting their efficacy in NAFLD are scarce. Based on the recent clinical trials, weight loss medication orlistat, ursodeoxycholic acid and antioxidant agents could potentially be used as adjunctive therapy. Considering still largely controversial clinical data regarding pharmacological agents, their high cost and known side-effects, lifestyle modifications at present remain the only essential considerations in the NAFLD treatment. |
DOI: |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S08 | Lifestyle measures | Lifestyle intervention; weight loss; diet adaptation; dietary interventions; lifestyle modifications; Exercise | -- | -- | Details |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D225 | Metformin | Chemical drug | DB00331 | PRKAB1 inducer activator; ETEDH inhibitor; GPD1 inhibitor | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D545 | Pig placenta extract | Biological extract | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D260 | Orlistat | Chemical drug | DB01083 | FASN inhibitor | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under 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 |
D381 | Ursodeoxycholic acid | Chemical drug | DB01586 | AKR1C2 inducer | Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D349 | Statins | Miscellany | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D157 | Glucophage | Chemical drug | DB00331 | -- | -- | 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 |