Pharmacotherapy of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Reflections on the existing evidence

J Dig Dis. 2017 Nov;18(11):607-617. doi: 10.1111/1751-2980.12557.

Abstract

Pharmacotherapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Over the past decade, a large number of clinical studies have explored the safety and efficacy of different drugs in treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), including diet pills, antioxidants, insulin sensitizers, lipid-lowering agents, anti-inflammatory cytokines, cytoprotective agents and intestinal probiotics. Based on the evidence from randomized controlled trials a number of academic groups have developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD and NASH. In this article, we discussed the current situation of NASH pharmacotherapy.

Keywords: drug therapy; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; randomized controlled trial.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy*
  • Pentoxifylline / therapeutic use
  • Pioglitazone
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Thiazolidinediones / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamin E / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Vitamin E
  • Pentoxifylline
  • Pioglitazone