Research Article Details

Article ID: A27848
PMID: 17261137
Source: J Dig Dis
Title: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Malaysia: a demographic, anthropometric, metabolic and histological study.
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region. There has been a paucity of studies from the region. The aims of this study were to define the demographic, anthropometric, metabolic and histological characteristics of patients with NAFLD in our local population and to determine independent predictors of severe liver fibrosis. METHODS: Patients with persistently raised liver enzymes and/or fatty liver detected on ultrasonography with exclusion of other liver disorders were prospectively recruited. Their insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance score. A liver biopsy was performed in all cases for grading (for steatohepatitis) and staging (for fibrosis) of NAFLD. Independent risk factors for fibrosis were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were recruited: 39 men (52%) and 36 women (48%). The mean age of the patients was 47.0+/-12.2 years. Of these, 58 patients (77.3%) were centrally obese, 29 patients (38.7%) were diabetic and 15 patients (20.0%) had impaired glucose tolerance. Insulin resistance was diagnosed in 62 out of 64 (96.9%) patients. Benign steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis were diagnosed in three (4.3%), 59 (84.3%) and eight (11.4%) of 70 patients, respectively. Significant independent predictors of liver fibrosis were; male sex (P=0.019, OR=5.55, CI=1.33-23.18) and Indian race (P=0.013, OR=8.21, CI=1.56-43.16). CONCLUSIONS: The full histological spectrum of NAFLD was seen in our patients. The majority of patients were insulin resistant, centrally obese and either diabetic or had impaired glucose tolerance. The predictors of severe liver fibrosis were male sex and Indian race.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1443-9573.2007.00286.x

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

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name

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
D080 Citrulline Chemical drug DB00155 -- -- Under clinical trials Details
D182 Insulin Biological drug DB00030 INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of -- Under clinical trials Details
D248 Obeticholic Acid Chemical drug DB05990 NR1H4 activator; NR1H4 agonist; FXR agonist Enhance lipid metabolism Approval rejected Details
D094 Cysteamine Chemical drug DB00847 GSS stimulant Renal drug Under clinical trials Details
D095 Cysteamine bitartrate Chemical drug DB00847 -- -- Under clinical trials Details