Advanced fibrosis leads to overestimation of steatosis with quantitative ultrasound in individuals without hepatic steatosis

PURPOSE

The effect of hepatic fibrosis stage on quantitative ultrasound based on the attenuation coefficient (AC) for liver lipid quantification is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine how the degree of fibrosis assessed by magnetic resonance (MR) elastography affects AC based on the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter according to the grade of hepatic steatosis, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived proton density fat fraction (MRIderived PDFF) as the reference standard.

METHODS

Between February 2020 and April 2021, 982 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent AC and MRI-derived PDFF measurement as well as MR elastography were enrolled. Multiple regression was used to investigate whether AC was affected by the degree of liver stiffness.

RESULTS

AC increased as liver stiffness progressed in 344 patients without hepatic steatosis (P=0.009). In multivariable analysis, AC was positively correlated with skin-capsule distance (P<0.001), MR elastography value (P=0.037), and MRI-derived PDFF (P<0.001) in patients without hepatic steatosis. In 52 of 982 patients (5%), the correlation between AC and MRIderived PDFF fell outside the 95% confidence interval for the regression line slope. Patients with MRI-derived PDFF lower than their AC (n=36) had higher fibrosis-4 scores, albumin-bilirubin scores, and MR elastography values than patients with MRI-derived PDFF greater than their AC (n=16; P=0.018, P=0.001, and P=0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSION

AC is affected by liver fibrosis (MR elastography value ≥6.7 kPa) only in patients without hepatic steatosis (MRI-derived PDFF <5.2%). These values should be interpreted with caution in patients with advanced liver fibrosis.

Identification of differentially methylated regions associated with both liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have previously reported that differentially methylated regions (DMRs) are correlated with the fibrosis stages of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this study, the methylation levels of those DMRs in liver fibrosis and subsequent HCC were examined.

METHODS

The methylation levels of DMRs were investigated using alcoholic cirrhosis and HCC (GSE60753). The data of hepatitis C virus-infected cirrhosis and HCC (GSE60753), and two datasets (GSE56588 and GSE89852) were used for replication analyses. The transcriptional analyses were performed using GSE114564, GSE94660, and GSE142530.

RESULTS

Hypomethylated DMR and increased transcriptional level of zinc finger and BTB domain containing 38 (ZBTB38) were observed in HCC. Hypermethylated DMRs, and increased transcriptional levels of forkhead box K1 (FOXK1) and zinc finger CCCH-type containing 3 (ZC3H3) were observed in HCC. The methylation levels of DMR of kazrin, periplakin interacting protein (KAZN) and its expression levels were gradually decreased as cirrhosis progressed to HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in the methylation and transcriptional levels of ZBTB38, ZC3H3, FOXK1, and KAZN are important for the development of fibrosis and HCC; and are therefore potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic tools for cirrhosis and HCC.

Pegbelfermin in Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Compensated Cirrhosis (FALCON 2): A Randomized Phase 2b Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Pegbelfermin is a polyethylene glycol-conjugated analog of human fibroblast growth factor 21, a nonmitogenic hormone that regulates energy metabolism. This phase 2b study evaluated 48-week pegbelfermin treatment in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with compensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

FALCON 2 (NCT03486912) was a randomized (1:1:1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eligible adults had biopsy-confirmed NASH and stage 4 fibrosis. Pegbelfermin (10, 20, or 40 mg) or placebo was injected subcutaneously once weekly. The primary endpoint was 1 or more stages of improvement in the NASH Clinical Research Network fibrosis score without NASH worsening at week 48; pegbelfermin dose response was assessed using a Cochran-Armitage trend test across proportions (1-sided α = .05). Additional endpoints included histologic and noninvasive measures of steatosis, fibrosis, and liver injury/inflammation.

RESULTS

Overall, 155 patients were randomized, and 154 patients received treatment. At week 48, 24% to 28% of the pegbelfermin arms had primary endpoint responses vs 31% of the placebo arm (P = .361). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score improvements were more frequent with pegbelfermin vs placebo and were driven primarily by reduced lobular inflammation. Numerically higher proportions of the pegbelfermin arms had liver stiffness (magnetic resonance elastography) and steatosis (magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction) improvements vs placebo; these differences were not statistically significant. Mean N-terminal type III collagen propeptide, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase values were numerically lower in the 20- and/or 40-mg pegbelfermin arms compared with placebo. Serious adverse events were more frequent with pegbelfermin vs placebo, although none were treatment related. One patient (40-mg pegbelfermin) discontinued treatment because of a treatment-emergent adverse event (worsening ascites).

CONCLUSIONS

FALCON 2 did not meet its primary endpoint of 1 or more stages of improvement in the NASH Clinical Research Network fibrosis without NASH worsening assessed via biopsy. Pegbelfermin generally was well tolerated in this advanced NASH population.

Pegbelfermin in Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Stage 3 Fibrosis (FALCON 1): A Randomized Phase 2b Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Pegbelfermin is a polyethlene glycol-conjugated analog of human fibroblast growth factor 21, a nonmitogenic hormone that regulates energy metabolism. This phase 2b study evaluated 48-week pegbelfermin treatment in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and stage 3 (bridging) fibrosis.

METHODS

The FALCON 1 study (NCT03486899) was a multicenter, randomized (1:1:1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH and stage 3 fibrosis (N = 197) received weekly subcutaneous pegbelfermin (10, 20, or 40 mg) or placebo injections for 48 weeks. The week 24 primary endpoint was a ≥1-point decrease in fibrosis score without NASH worsening or NASH improvement without fibrosis worsening; pegbelfermin dose response was assessed using a Cochran-Armitage trend test across proportions (1-sided α = 0.05). Secondary/exploratory endpoints included histological and noninvasive measures of steatosis, fibrosis, and liver injury/inflammation.

RESULTS

At week 24, the primary endpoint was met by 14% (placebo) vs 24%-31% (pegbelfermin arms); statistical significance was not reached due to lack of pegbelfermin dose response (P = .134). At weeks 24 and 48, more patients who received pegbelfermin had ≥30% relative reductions in hepatic fat fraction (magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction) vs placebo, although no differences reached statistical significance. In the pegbelfermin arms, improvements in liver fibrosis (magnetic resonance elastography and N-terminal type III collagen propeptide) and liver injury/inflammation (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) were observed vs placebo. Adverse events occurred at similar frequencies across arms. No treatment-related serious adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The FALCON 1 study did not meet its primary endpoint; a ≥1-point decrease in fibrosis score without NASH worsening or NASH improvement without fibrosis worsening assessed via biopsy. Pegbelfermin was generally well tolerated during 48 weeks of treatment.

Prediction of outcomes in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease based on initial measurements and subsequent changes in magnetic resonance elastography

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is strongly associated with liver fibrosis. We aimed to investigate whether liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and changes in LSM (ΔLSM) on magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) can predict clinical events in patients with MASLD.

METHODS

We included 405 patients with MASLD who underwent at least two MREs. The patients were divided into five groups corresponding to fibrosis stages (0-4) based on initial LSM and classified as progressors (ΔLSM ≥ 19%) or non-progressors (ΔLSM < 19%) based on the difference between the first and last LSM.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 72.6 months, and the mean interval between MREs was 23.5 months. There were 52 (12.8%) progressors and 353 (87.2%) non-progressors. The initial LSM was significantly associated with the cumulative probabilities of decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver-related events, extrahepatic malignancies, and overall mortality but not with cardiovascular disease. Progressors had significantly higher hazard ratios (HRs) for decompensated cirrhosis, HCC, and liver-related events but not for extrahepatic malignancies, cardiovascular disease, or overall mortality. Among patients without cirrhosis, the HR for developing cirrhosis among progressors was 60.15. Progressors had a significantly higher risk of liver-related events, even in the low initial LSM (fibrosis stage 0-2) subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both initial LSM and ΔLSM can predict liver-related events in patients with MASLD, even for low initial LSM. This integrated assessment can allow more detailed risk stratification compared with single LSM assessments and identify high-risk patients with MASLD among those previously considered as low risk.

Combined, elobixibat, and colestyramine reduced cholesterol toxicity in a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol levels and bile acid metabolism are important drivers of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) progression. Using a mouse model, we investigated the mechanism by which cholesterol exacerbates MASH and the effect of colestyramine (a bile acid adsorption resin) and elobixibat (an apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter inhibitor) concomitant administration on bile acid adsorption and MASH status.

METHODS

Mice were fed a high-fat high-fructose diet with varying concentrations of cholesterol to determine changes in fatty liver according to liver status, water intake, defecation status, insulin resistance, bile acid levels, intestinal permeability, atherosclerosis (in apolipoprotein E knockout mice), and carcinogenesis (in diethylnitrosamine mice). Using small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), we evaluated the effect of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) knockdown on triglyceride synthesis and fatty liver status following the administration of elobixibat (group E), colestyramine (group C), or both (group EC).

RESULTS

We found greater reductions in serum alanine aminotransferase levels, serum lipid parameters, serum primary bile acid concentrations, hepatic lipid levels, and fibrosis area in EC group than in the monotherapy groups. Increased intestinal permeability and watery diarrhea caused by elobixibat were completely ameliorated in group EC. Group EC showed reduced plaque formation rates in the entire aorta and aortic valve of the atherosclerosis model, and reduced tumor counts and tumor burden in the carcinogenesis model.

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive free cholesterol in the liver can promote fatty liver disease. Herein, combination therapy with EC effectively reduced free cholesterol levels in MASH model mice. Our study provides strong evidence for combination therapy as an effective treatment for MASH.

Multivariable Quantitative US Parameters for Assessing Hepatic Steatosis

Background Because of the global increase in the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the development of noninvasive, widely available, and highly accurate methods for assessing hepatic steatosis is necessary. Purpose To evaluate the performance of models with different combinations of quantitative US parameters for their ability to predict at least 5% steatosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) as defined using MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF). Materials and Methods Patients with CLD were enrolled in this prospective multicenter study between February 2020 and April 2021. Integrated backscatter coefficient (IBSC), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and US-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) were measured in all participants. Participant MRI PDFF value was used to define at least 5% steatosis. Four models based on different combinations of US parameters were created: model 1 (UGAP alone), model 2 (UGAP with IBSC), model 3 (UGAP with SNR), and model 4 (UGAP with IBSC and SNR). Diagnostic performance of all models was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The model was internally validated using 1000 bootstrap samples. Results A total of 582 participants were included in this study (median age, 64 years; IQR, 52-72 years; 274 female participants). There were 364 participants in the steatosis group and 218 in the nonsteatosis group. The AUC values for steatosis diagnosis in models 1-4 were 0.92, 0.93, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. The C-indexes of models adjusted by the bootstrap method were 0.92, 0.93, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. Compared with other models, models 3 and 4 demonstrated improved discrimination of at least 5% steatosis (P < .01). Conclusion A model built using the quantitative US parameters UGAP, IBSC, and SNR could accurately discriminate at least 5% steatosis in patients with CLD. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Han in this issue.

M-PAST score is better than MAST score for the diagnosis of active fibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials enroll patients with active fibrotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] activity score ≥ 4) and significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2); however, screening failure rates are high following biopsy. We developed new scores to identify active fibrotic NASH using FibroScan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

We undertook prospective primary (n = 176), retrospective validation (n = 169), and University of California San Diego (UCSD; n = 234) studies of liver biopsy-proven NAFLD. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using FibroScan or magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), or proton density fat fraction (PDFF), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were combined to develop a two-step strategy-FibroScan-based LSM followed by CAP with AST (F-CAST) and MRE-based LSM followed by PDFF with AST (M-PAST)-and compared with FibroScan-AST (FAST) and MRI-AST (MAST) for diagnosing active fibrotic NASH. Each model was categorized using rule-in and rule-out criteria.

RESULTS

Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of F-CAST (0.826) and M-PAST (0.832) were significantly higher than those of FAST (0.744, p = 0.004) and MAST (0.710, p < 0.001). Following the rule-in criteria, positive predictive values of F-CAST (81.8%) and M-PAST (81.8%) were higher than those of FAST (73.5%) and MAST (70.0%). Following the rule-out criteria, negative predictive values of F-CAST (90.5%) and M-PAST (90.9%) were higher than those of FAST (84.0%) and MAST (73.9%). In the validation and UCSD cohorts, AUROCs did not differ significantly between F-CAST and FAST, but M-PAST had a higher diagnostic performance than MAST.

CONCLUSIONS

The two-step strategy, especially M-PAST, showed reliability of rule-in/-out for active fibrotic NASH, with better predictive performance compared with MAST. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number, UMIN000012757).

An individual patient data meta-analysis to determine cut-offs for and confounders of NAFLD-fibrosis staging with magnetic resonance elastography

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis to establish stiffness cut-off values for magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in staging liver fibrosis and to assess potential confounding factors.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature identified studies reporting MRE data in patients with NAFLD. Data were obtained from the corresponding authors. The pooled diagnostic cut-off value for the various fibrosis stages was determined in a two-stage meta-analysis. Multilevel modelling methods were used to analyse potential confounding factors influencing the diagnostic accuracy of MRE in staging liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

Eight independent cohorts comprising 798 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for MRE in detecting significant fibrosis was 0.92 (sensitivity, 79%; specificity, 89%). For advanced fibrosis, the AUROC was 0.92 (sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 88%). For cirrhosis, the AUROC was 0.94 (sensitivity, 88%, specificity, 89%). Cut-offs were defined to explore concordance between MRE and histopathology: ≥F2, 3.14 kPa (pretest probability, 39.4%); ≥F3, 3.53 kPa (pretest probability, 24.1%); and F4, 4.45 kPa (pretest probability, 8.7%). In generalized linear mixed model analysis, histological steatohepatitis with higher inflammatory activity (odds ratio 2.448, 95% CI 1.180-5.079, p <0.05) and high gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentration (>120U/L) (odds ratio 3.388, 95% CI 1.577-7.278, p <0.01] were significantly associated with elevated liver stiffness, and thus affecting accuracy in staging early fibrosis (F0-F1). Steatosis, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction, and body mass index(BMI) were not confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

MRE has excellent diagnostic performance for significant, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD. Elevated inflammatory activity and GGT level may lead to overestimation of early liver fibrosis, but anthropometric measures such as BMI or the degree of steatosis do not.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

This individual patient data meta-analysis of eight international cohorts, including 798 patients, demonstrated that MRE achieves excellent diagnostic accuracy for significant, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD. Cut-off values (significant fibrosis, 3.14 kPa; advanced fibrosis, 3.53 kPa; and cirrhosis, 4.45 kPa) were established. Elevated inflammatory activity and gamma-glutamyltransferase level may affect the diagnostic accuracy of MRE, leading to overestimation of liver fibrosis in early stages. We observed no impact of diabetes, obesity, or any other metabolic disorder on the diagnostic accuracy of MRE.

Clinical and histologic factors associated with discordance between steatosis grade derived from histology vs. MRI-PDFF in NAFLD

BACKGROUND

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) is an excellent biomarker for non-invasive quantification of hepatic steatosis. This study examined clinical and histologic factors associated with discordance between steatosis grade determined by histology and MRI-PDFF in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

METHODS

Seven twenty eight biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from UC San Diego (n = 414) and Yokohama City University (n = 314) who underwent MRI-PDFF and liver biopsy were included. Patients were stratified by steatosis and matched with MRI-PDFF cut-points for each steatosis grade: 0 (MRI-PDFF < 6.4%), 1 (MRI-PDFF: 6.4%-17.4%), 2 (MRI-PDFF: 17.4%-22.1%), 3 (MRI-PDFF ≥ 22.1%). Primary outcome was major discordance defined as ≥2 steatosis grade difference determined by histology vs. MRI-PDFF.

RESULTS

Mean age (±SD) and BMI were 55.3 (±13.8) years and 29.9 (±4.9) kg/m² , respectively. The distributions of histology and MRI-PDFF determined steatosis are 5.5% grade 0 (n = 40), 44.8% 1 (n = 326, 44.8%), 33.9% 2 (n = 247), and 15.8% 3 (n = 115) vs. 23.5% grade 0 (n = 171), 49.7% 1 (n = 362), 12.9% 2 (n = 94), and 13.9% 3 (n = 101). Major discordance rate was 6.6% (n = 48). Most cases with major discordance had greater histology-determined steatosis grade (n = 40, 88.3%), higher serum AST and liver stiffness, and greater likelihood of fibrosis ≥2, ballooning ≥1 and lobular inflammation ≥2 (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Histology overestimates steatosis grade compared to MRI-PDFF. Patients with advanced NASH are likely to be upgraded on steatosis grade by histology. These data have important implications for steatosis estimation and reporting on histology in clinical practice and trials, especially in stage 2 fibrosis patients.

Involvement of Periodontal Disease in the Pathogenesis and Exacerbation of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Review

The increasing incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), along with global lifestyle changes, requires further in-depth research to elucidate the mechanisms and develop new treatment strategies. In addition, the number of patients with periodontal disease has increased recently, suggesting that periodontal disease is sometimes associated with systemic conditions. In this review, we summarize recent studies linking periodontal disease and NAFLD, the concept of the mouth-gut-liver axis, oral and intestinal microbiota, and liver disease. We suggest new research directions toward a detailed mechanistic understanding and novel targets for treatment and prevention. Forty years have passed since the concepts of NAFLD and NASH were first proposed. however, no effective prevention or treatment has been established. We also found that the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH is not limited to liver-related diseases but has been reported to be associated with various systemic diseases and an increasing number of causes of death. In addition, changes in the intestinal microbiota have been shown to be a risk factor for periodontal diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity.

Meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of serum type IV collagen 7S concentration for the staging of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the measurement of serum type IV collagen 7S (T4C7S) concentration for the staging of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

A systematic search or published works was carried out using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science Core Collection databases for studies of the accuracy of serum T4C7S concentration for the staging of fibrosis using Fibrosis stage (F)0-4 in patients with NAFLD diagnosed by liver biopsy.

RESULTS

Nine articles describing 1475 participants with NAFLD were included. For fibrosis ≥F1, with n = 849, summary estimates of sensitivity of 0.79, specificity of 0.69, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 were obtained using a median T7C4S cut-off value of 4.6 ng/ml. For fibrosis ≥F2, with n = 1,090, summary estimates of sensitivity of 0.78, specificity of 0.78, and AUC of 0.84 were obtained using a median cut-off value of 4.9 ng/ml. For fibrosis ≥F3, with n = 1311 participants and a median cut-off value of 5.4 ng/ml, a pooled sensitivity of 0.82, specificity of 0.81, and AUC of 0.83 were obtained. For fibrosis ≥F4, with n = 753 and a median cut-off value of 6.6 ng/ml, a pooled sensitivity of 0.85, specificity of 0.81, and AUC of 0.85 were obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum T4C7S concentration was found to be an accurate method of staging liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Real-world assessment of SmartExam, a novel FibroScan computational method: A retrospective single-center cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

SmartExam is a novel computational method compatible with FibroScan that uses a software called SmartDepth and continuous controlled attenuation parameter measurements to evaluate liver fibrosis and steatosis. This retrospective study compared the diagnostic accuracy of conventional and SmartExam-equipped FibroScan for liver stiffness measurement (LSM).

METHODS

The liver stiffness and the associated controlled attenuation parameters of 167 patients were measured using conventional and SmartExam-Equipped FibroScan as well as reference methods like magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) measurements to assess its diagnostic performance. M or XL probes were selected based on the probe-to-liver capsule distance for all FibroScan examinations.

RESULTS

The liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) correlation coefficients calculated from conventional and SmartExam-equipped FibroScan were 0.97 and 0.82, respectively. Using MRE/MRI-PDFF as a reference and the DeLong test for analysis, LSM and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for CAP measured by conventional and SmartExam-equipped FibroScan showed no significant difference. However, the SmartExam-equipped FibroScan measurement (33.6 s) took 1.4 times longer than conventional FibroScan (23.2 s).

CONCLUSIONS

SmartExam has a high diagnostic performance comparable with that of conventional FibroScan. Because the results of the conventional and SmartExam-equipped FibroScan were strongly correlated, it can be considered useful for assessing the fibrosis stage and steatosis grade of the liver in clinical practice, with less variability but little longer measurement time compared with the conventional FibroScan.

Non-invasive imaging biomarkers for liver steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: present and future

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most common chronic liver disease, affecting up to 25% of the global population. Simple fatty liver, in which fat is deposited in the liver without fibrosis, has been regarded as a benign disease in the past, but it is now known to be prognostic. In the future, more emphasis should be placed on the quantification of liver fat. Traditionally, fatty liver has been assessed by histological evaluation, which requires an invasive examination; however, technological innovations have made it possible to evaluate fatty liver by non-invasive imaging methods, such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, quantitative as well as qualitative measurements for the detection of fatty liver have become available. In this review, we summarize the currently used qualitative evaluations of fatty liver and discuss quantitative evaluations that are expected to further develop in the future.

Diagnostic comparison of vibration-controlled transient elastography and MRI techniques in overweight and obese patients with NAFLD

Non-invasive imaging techniques have greatly advanced the assessment of liver fibrosis and steatosis but are not fully evaluated in overweight patients. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to assess fibrosis and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and MR imaging (MRI)-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) to assess steatosis in overweight and obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We included 163 biopsy-proven patients with NAFLD who underwent VCTE, MRE/MRI-PDFF, and liver biopsy (years 2014-2020) who were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) as normal (BMI < 25 kg/m², n = 38), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m², n = 68), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², n = 57). VCTE and MRE detected fibrosis of stages ≥ 2, ≥ 3, and 4 with an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 0.83-0.94 (VCTE) and 0.85-0.95 (MRE) in all groups, without considerable differences. MRI-PDFF detected steatosis of grades ≥ 2 and 3 with high AUROC in all groups (0.81-1.00). CAP's diagnostic ability (0.63-0.95) was lower than that of MRI-PDFF and decreased with increasing BMI compared to MRI-PDFF. VCTE and MRE similarly accurately assess fibrosis, although MRI-PDFF is more accurate than CAP in detecting steatosis in overweight and obese patients with NAFLD.

Head-to-head comparison between MEFIB, MAST, and FAST for detecting stage 2 fibrosis or higher among patients with NAFLD

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and significant fibrosis (fibrosis stage ≥2) are candidates for pharmacological trials. The aim of this study was to perform a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic test characteristics of three non-invasive stiffness-based models including MEFIB (magnetic resonance elastography [MRE] plus FIB-4), MAST (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-aspartate aminotransferase [AST]), and FAST (FibroScan-AST) for detecting significant fibrosis.

METHODS

This prospective study included 563 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD undergoing contemporaneous MRE, MRI proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and FibroScan from two prospective cohorts derived from Southern California and Japan. Diagnostic performances of models were evaluated by area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

The mean age of the cohort was 56.5 years (51% were women). Significant fibrosis was observed in 51.2%. To detect significant fibrosis, MEFIB outperformed both MAST and FAST (both p <0.001); AUCs for MEFIB, MAST, and FAST were 0.901 (95% CI 0.875-0.928), 0.770 (95% CI 0.730-0.810), and 0.725 (95% CI 0.683-0.767), respectively. Using rule-in criteria, the positive predictive value of MEFIB (95.3%) was significantly higher than that of FAST (83.5%, p = 0.001) and numerically but not statistically greater than that of MAST (90.0%, p = 0.056). Notably, MEFIB's rule-in criteria covered more of the study population than MAST (34.1% vs. 26.6%; p = 0.006). Using rule-out criteria, the negative predictive value of MEFIB (90.1%) was significantly higher than that of either MAST (69.6%) or FAST (71.8%) (both p <0.001). Furthermore, to diagnose "at risk" non-alcoholic steatohepatitis defined as NAFLD activity score ≥4 and fibrosis stage ≥2, MEFIB outperformed both MAST and FAST (both p <0.05); AUCs for MEFIB, MAST, and FAST were 0.768 (95% CI 0.728-0.808), 0.719 (95% CI 0.671-0.766), and 0.687 (95% CI 0.640-0.733), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

MEFIB was better than MAST and FAST for detection of significant fibrosis as well as "at risk" NASH. All three models provide utility for the risk stratification of NAFLD.

LAY SUMMARY

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects over 25% of the general population worldwide and is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease. Because so many individuals have NAFLD, it is not practical to perform liver biopsies to identify those with more severe disease who may require pharmacological interventions. Therefore, accurate non-invasive tests are crucial. Herein, we compared three such tests and found that a test called MEFIB was the best at detecting patients who might require treatment.

Clinical Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers for Identifying Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Patients at High Risk of Progression: A Multicenter Pooled Data and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in prevalence worldwide. NAFLD is associated with excess risk of all-cause mortality, and its progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis accounts for a growing proportion of cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer and thus is a leading cause of liver transplant worldwide. Noninvasive precise methods to identify patients with NASH and NASH with significant disease activity and fibrosis are crucial when the disease is still modifiable. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical utility of corrected T1 (cT1) vs magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) liver fat for identification of NASH participants with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score ≥4 and fibrosis stage (F) ≥2 (high-risk NASH).

METHODS

Data from five clinical studies (n = 543) with participants suspected of NAFLD were pooled or used for individual participant data meta-analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of the MRI biomarkers to stratify NASH patients was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

RESULTS

A stepwise increase in cT1 and MRI liver fat with increased NAFLD severity was shown, and cT1 was significantly higher in participants with high-risk NASH. The diagnostic accuracy (AUROC) of cT1 to identify patients with NASH was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.74-0.82), for liver fat was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.73-0.82), and when combined with MRI liver fat was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78-0.85). The diagnostic accuracy of cT1 to identify patients with high-risk NASH was good (AUROC = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.74-0.82), was superior to MRI liver fat (AUROC = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.64-0.74), and was not substantially improved by combining it with MRI liver fat (AUROC = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.75-0.83). The meta-analysis showed similar performance to the pooled analysis for these biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that quantitative MRI-derived biomarkers cT1 and liver fat are suitable for identifying patients with NASH, and cT1 is a better noninvasive technology than liver fat to identify NASH patients at greatest risk of disease progression. Therefore, MRI cT1 and liver fat have important clinical utility to help guide the appropriate use of interventions in NAFLD and NASH clinical care pathways.

Utility of Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter for Grading Steatosis With Reference to MRI-PDFF in a Large Cohort

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) is recently developed for noninvasive evaluation of steatosis. However, reports on its usefulness in clinical practice are limited. This prospective multicenter study analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of grading steatosis with reference to magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), a noninvasive method with high accuracy, in a large cohort.

METHODS

Altogether, 1010 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent MRI-PDFF and UGAP were recruited and prospectively enrolled from 6 Japanese liver centers. Linearity was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients between MRI-PDFF and UGAP values. Bias, defined as the mean difference between MRI-PDFF and UGAP values, was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. UGAP cutoffs for pairwise MRI-PDFF-based steatosis grade were determined using area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analyses.

RESULTS

UGAP values were shown to be normally distributed. However, because PDFF values were not normally distributed, they were log-transformed (MRI-logPDFF). UGAP values significantly correlated with MRI-logPDFF (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.768). Additionally, Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between MRI-logPDFF and UGAP with a mean bias of 0.0002% and a narrow range of agreement (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.015 to 0.015). The AUROCs for distinguishing steatosis grade ≥1 (MRI-PDFF ≥5.2%), ≥2 (MRI-PDFF ≥11.3%), and 3 (MRI-PDFF ≥17.1%) were 0.910 (95% CI, 0.891-0.928), 0.912 (95% CI, 0.894-0.929), and 0.894 (95% CI, 0.873-0.916), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

UGAP has excellent diagnostic accuracy for grading steatosis with reference to MRI-PDFF. Additionally, UGAP has good linearity and negligible bias, suggesting that UGAP has excellent technical performance characteristics that can be widely used in clinical trials and patient care. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, Number: UMIN000041196).

Comparison of long‐term prognosis between non‐obese and obese patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background and Aim

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can progress in non‐obese patients as in obese patients. Reports on long‐term prognosis in non‐obese NAFLD patients are controversial. Therefore, we aimed to examine the long‐term prognosis of non‐obese patients with NAFLD.

Methods

This single‐center, retrospective cohort study enrolled biopsy‐proven non‐obese and obese NAFLD patients between January 2002 and December 2011 and followed them up until 31 March 2021, for death and clinical events (cardiovascular and liver‐related events and extrahepatic cancers).

Results

Of the 223 NAFLD patients, 58 (26.0%) were non‐obese. Compared with obese patients, they had a lower fibrosis stage (0.8 ± 0.80 vs 1.2 ± 0.91; P = 0.004), milder lobular inflammation (0.9 ± 0.7 vs 1.1 ± 0.7; P = 0.02), and significantly lower serum creatinine, total bilirubin, ferritin, and type IV collagen 7S and higher high‐density lipoprotein levels. After a median follow‐up of 8.9 years, no significant difference was noted in mortality between the two groups (2 [3.4%] non‐obese vs 5 [3.0%] obese; log‐rank test, P = 0.63). Twelve patients (20.7%) in the non‐obese group and 32 (19.4%) in the obese group had clinical events. Although the obese group had a higher incidence of clinical events during the first 10 years of follow‐up, the non‐obese group had a higher incidence after that (log‐rank test, P = 0.67). The non‐obese group had a high incidence of malignancy (9 [15.5%] non‐obese vs 14 [8.3%] obese; P = 0.13).

Conclusion

Non‐obese NAFLD does not necessarily have a good prognosis, and some cases have a poor prognosis such as extrahepatic cancers. Further validation is required in the future.

Efficacy and safety of guanabenz acetate treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a study protocol for a randomised investigator-initiated phase IIa study

INTRODUCTION

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic syndrome phenotype in the liver and thus obviously associated with metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance-related to hyperglycaemic and hyperlipidaemia. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing worldwide. However, currently, there is no consensus regarding the efficacy and safety of drugs used to treat patients with NAFLD/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Guanabenz acetate, a selective α2-adrenoceptor stimulator used in the treatment of hypertension, binds at a high-affinity constant to a nuclear transcriptional coregulator, helicase with zinc finger 2 (Helz2) and inhibits Helz2-medaited steatosis in the liver; chronic oral administration of guanabenz acetate produces a dose-dependent inhibition of lipid accumulation by inhibiting lipogenesis and activating fatty acid Β-oxidation in the liver of obese mice, resulting in improvement of insulin resistance and hyperlipidaemia. Taken all together, guanabenz acetate has a potentially effective in improving the development of NAFLD/NASH and metabolic abnormalities. In this randomised, open label, parallel-group, phase IIa study, we made attempts to conduct a proof-of-concept assessment by evaluating the efficacy and safety of guanabenz acetate treatment in patients with NAFLD/NASH.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A total of 28 adult patients with NAFLD or NASH and hypertension complications meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be enrolled. Patients will be randomised to receive either 4 or 8 mg guanabenz acetate (n=14 per group). Blood tests and MRI will be performed 16 weeks after commencement of treatment. The primary endpoint will be the percentage reduction in hepatic fat content (%) measured using MRI-proton density fat fraction from baseline by at least 3.46% at week 16 after treatment initiation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Yokohama City University Hospital before participant enrolment (YCU021001). The results of this study will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals, and the key findings will be presented at international scientific conferences. Participants wishing to know the results of this study will be contacted directly on data publication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number: NCT05084404).

PROTOCOL VERSION

V.1.1, 19 August 2021.

Influence of liver stiffness heterogeneity on staging fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite that hepatic fibrosis often affects the liver globally, spatial distribution can be heterogeneous. This study aimed to investigate the effect of liver stiffness (LS) heterogeneity on concordance between MR elastography (MRE)-based fibrosis staging and biopsy staging in patients with NAFLD.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We retrospectively evaluated data from 155 NAFLD patients who underwent liver biopsy and 3 Tesla MRE and undertook a retrospective validation study of 169 NAFLD patients at three hepatology centers. Heterogeneity of stiffness was assessed by measuring the range between minimum and maximum MRE-based LS measurement (LSM). Variability of LSM was defined as the stiffness range divided by the maximum stiffness value. The cohort was divided into two groups (homogenous or heterogeneous), according to whether variability was below or above the average for the training cohort. Based on histopathology and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, optimum LSM thresholds were determined for MRE-based fibrosis staging of stage 4 (4.43, kPa; AUROC, 0.89) and stage ≥3 (3.93, kPa; AUROC, 0.89). In total, 53 had LSM above the threshold for stage 4. Within this group, 30 had a biopsy stage of <4. In 86.7% of these discordant cases, variability of LSM was classified as heterogeneous. In MRE-based LSM stage ≥3, 88.9% of discordant cases were classified as heterogeneous. Results of the validation cohort were similar to those of the training cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Discordance between biopsy- and MRE-based fibrosis staging is associated with heterogeneity in LSM, as depicted with MRE.

Association of Serum and Fecal Bile Acid Patterns With Liver Fibrosis in Biopsy-Proven Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

No reports on both blood and fecal bile acids (BAs) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) exist. We simultaneously assessed the serum and fecal BA patterns in healthy participants and those with NAFLD.

METHODS

We collected stool samples from 287 participants from 5 hospitals in Japan (healthy control [HC]: n = 88; mild fibrosis: n = 104; and advanced fibrosis group: n = 95). Blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum BAs and 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4)-a surrogate marker for BA synthesis ability-from 141 patients. Concentrations of BAs, including cholic acid (CA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and lithocholic acid (LCA), were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The total fecal BA concentration was significantly higher in the NAFLD group with worsening of fibrosis than in the HC group. Most of the fecal BAs were secondary and unconjugated. In the fecal BA fraction, CA, DCA, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and LCA were significantly higher in the NAFLD than in the HC group. The total serum BA concentration was higher in the NAFLD group with worsening of fibrosis than in the HC group. In the serum BA fraction, CA, LCA, and C4 concentrations were significantly higher in the NAFLD than in the HC group.

DISCUSSION

Fecal and serum BA and C4 concentrations were high in patients with NAFLD with worsening of fibrosis, suggesting involvement of abnormal BA metabolism in NAFLD with fibrosis progression. Abnormalities in BA metabolism may be a therapeutic target in NAFLD with fibrosis.

Two differentially methylated region networks in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

We previously reported that two differentially methylated region (DMR) networks identified by DMR and co-methylation analyses are strongly correlated with the fibrosis stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the current study, we examined these DMR networks in viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We performed co-methylation analysis of DMRs using a normal dataset (GSE48325), two NAFLD datasets (JGAS000059 and GSE31803), and two HCC datasets (GSE89852 and GSE56588). The dataset GSE60753 was used for validation.

Results

One DMR network was clearly observed in viral hepatitis and two HCC populations. Methylation levels of genes in this network were higher in viral hepatitis and cirrhosis, and lower in HCC. Fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1), serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 2 (SGK2), and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 α (HNF4A) were potential hub genes in this network. Increased methylation levels of the FABP1 gene may be correlated with reduced protection of hepatocytes from oxidative metabolites in NAFLD and viral hepatitis. The decreased methylation levels of SGK2 may facilitate the growth and proliferation of HCC cells. Decreased methylation levels of HNF4A in HCC may be associated with tumorigenesis. The other DMR network was observed in NAFLD, but not in viral hepatitis or HCC. This second network included genes involved in transcriptional regulation, cytoskeleton organization, and cellular proliferation, which are specifically related to fibrosis and/or tumorigenesis in NAFLD.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that one DMR network was associated with fibrosis and tumorigenesis in both NAFLD and viral hepatitis, while the other network was specifically associated with NAFLD progression. Furthermore, FABP1, SGK2, and HNF4A are potential candidate targets for the prevention and treatment of HCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02360-4.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Two-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography for Liver Fibrosis: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Chronic liver disease (CLD) leads to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, which is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally.1 Liver fibrosis is the most important prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma development and prognosis in CLD, and accurate staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal in clinical practice.2 Although liver biopsy is the gold standard for evaluating liver fibrosis, liver biopsy has several limitations including invasiveness, sampling error, and intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility.3 To resolve these problems, several noninvasive methods for evaluating liver fibrosis have been developed using serum fibrosis markers, ultrasound-based modalities, and magnetic resonance imaging-based modalities.4.

Combination of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone for NAFLD: Extension to the ToPiND randomized controlled trial

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently increased and is related to obesity and the associated surge in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndromes. This trial follows up on our previous work and forms part of the ToPiND study. We aimed to combine tofogliflozin and pioglitazone treatment for hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD and T2DM. In this open‐label, prospective, single‐center, randomized clinical trial, patients with NAFLD with T2DM and a hepatic fat fraction of ≥10% were assessed based on magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction. Eligible patients received either 20 mg tofogliflozin or 15–30 mg pioglitazone orally, once daily for 24 weeks, followed by combination therapy with both medicines for an additional 24 weeks. The effects on diabetes mellitus and hepatic steatosis were examined at baseline and after the completion of monotherapy and combination therapy. Thirty‐two eligible patients received the combination therapy of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone. The combination therapy showed additional improvement in glycated hemoglobin compared with each monotherapy group and showed improvement in steatosis, hepatic stiffness, and alanine aminotransferase levels compared with the tofogliflozin monotherapy group. Pioglitazone monotherapy–mediated increase in body weight decreased following concomitant use of tofogliflozin. The combination therapy resulted in lower triglyceride, higher high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher adiponectin, and higher ketone body levels. Conclusion: In addition to the additive effects of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone in patients with T2DM and NAFLD, combination therapy was suggested to reduce weight gain and induce cardioprotective effect. Further studies with more patients are needed to investigate the combination therapy of various drugs.

Direct Comparison of US and MR Elastography for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

As alternatives to the expensive liver biopsy for assessing liver fibrosis stage in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), we directly compared the diagnostic abilities of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE).

METHODS

Overall, 231 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient in a sub-group of 70 participants, in whom liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was performed by an elastography expert and an ultrasound expert who was an elastography trainee on the same day.

RESULTS

Valid LSMs were obtained for 227, 220, 204, and 201 patients using MRE, VCTE, 2D-SWE, and all three modalities combined, respectively. Although the area under the curve did not differ between the modalities for detecting stage ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 liver fibrosis, it was higher for MRE than VCTE and 2D-SWE for stage 4. Sex was a significant predictor of discordance between VCTE and liver fibrosis stage. Skin-capsule distance and the ratio of the interquartile range of liver stiffness to the median were significantly associated with discordance between 2D-SWE and liver fibrosis stage. However, no factors were associated with discordance between MRE and liver fibrosis stage. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility in detecting liver fibrosis was higher for MRE than VCTE and 2D-SWE.

CONCLUSIONS

MRE, VCTE, and 2D-SWE demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy in detecting liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. MRE demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy for stage 4 detection and intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry No. UMIN000031491.

Magnetic resonance elastography plus Fibrosis-4 versus FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase in detection of candidates for pharmacological treatment of NASH-related fibrosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients with NAFLD with significant hepatic fibrosis (Stage ≥ 2) are at increased risk of liver-related morbidity and are candidates for pharmacologic therapies. In this study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of MEFIB (the combination of magnetic resonance elastography [MRE] and Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4]) and FAST (FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase; combined liver stiffness measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography, controlled attenuation parameter, and aspartate aminotransferase) for detecting significant fibrosis.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

This prospective cohort study included 234 consecutive patients with NAFLD who underwent liver biopsy, MRE, and FibroScan at the University of California San Diego (UCSD cohort) and an independent cohort (N = 314) from Yokohama City University, Japan. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy for significant fibrosis (Stage ≥ 2). The proportions of significant fibrosis in the UCSD and Yokohama cohorts were 29.5% and 66.2%, respectively. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% CI) of MEFIB (0.860 [0.81-0.91]) was significantly higher than that of FAST (0.757 [0.69-0.82]) in the UCSD cohort (p = 0.005), with consistent results in the Yokohama cohort (AUROC, 0.899 [MEFIB] versus 0.724 [FAST]; p < 0.001). When used as the rule-in criteria (MEFIB, MRE ≥ 3.3 kPa and FIB-4 ≥ 1.6; FAST ≥ 0.67), the positive predictive value for significant fibrosis was 91.2%-96.0% for MEFIB and 74.2%-89.2% for FAST. When used as the rule-out criteria (MEFIB, MRE < 3.3 kPa and FIB-4 < 1.6; FAST ≤ 0.35), the negative predictive value for significant fibrosis was 85.6%-92.8% for MEFIB and 57.8%-88.3% for FAST.

CONCLUSIONS

MEFIB has higher diagnostic accuracy than FAST for significant fibrosis in NAFLD, and our results support the utility of a two-step strategy for detecting significant fibrosis in NAFLD.

Non-obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asia: an international registry study

BACKGROUND

A significant proportion of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) population is non-obese. Prior studies reporting the severity of NAFLD amongst non-obese patients were heterogenous. Our study, using data from the largest biopsy-proven NAFLD international registry within Asia, aims to characterize the demographic, metabolic and histological differences between non-obese and obese NAFLD patients.

METHODS

1812 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients across nine countries in Asia assessed between 2006 and 2019 were pooled into a curated clinical registry. Demographic, metabolic and histological differences between non-obese and obese NAFLD patients were evaluated. The performance of Fibrosis-4 index for liver fibrosis (FIB-4) and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) to identify advanced liver disease across the varying obesity subgroups was compared. A random forest analysis was performed to identify novel predictors of fibrosis and steatohepatitis in non-obese patients.

FINDINGS

One-fifth (21.6%) of NAFLD patients were non-obese. Non-obese NAFLD patients had lower proportions of NASH (50.5% vs 56.5%, p = 0.033) and advanced fibrosis (14.0% vs 18.7%, p = 0.033). Metabolic syndrome in non-obese individuals was associated with NASH (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.01-2.54, p = 0.047) and advanced fibrosis (OR 1.88, 95% CI 0.99-3.54, p = 0.051). FIB-4 performed better than the NFS score (AUROC 81.5% vs 73.7%, p < 0.001) when classifying patients with F2-4 fibrosis amongst non-obese NAFLD patients. Haemoglobin, GGT, waist circumference and cholesterol are additional variables found on random forest analysis useful for identifying non-obese NAFLD patients with advanced liver disease.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of non-obese NAFLD patients has NASH or advanced fibrosis. FIB-4, compared to NFS better identifies non-obese NAFLD patients with advanced liver disease. Serum GGT, cholesterol, haemoglobin and waist circumference, which are neither components of NFS nor FIB-4, are important biomarkers for advanced liver disease in non-obese patients.

Gastroesophageal varices evaluation using spleen‐dedicated stiffness measurement by vibration‐controlled transient elastography

Background and Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Effects of Canagliflozin on Hepatic Steatosis, Visceral Fat and Skeletal Muscle among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective We assessed the effect of canagliflozin, an sodium-glucose co-transporter type-2 inhibitor, on hepatic steatosis using three imaging modalities: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography, and transient elastography. We further determined factors associated with improving hepatic steatosis by canagliflozin among patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods We conducted a six-month prospective single-arm study between August 2015 and June 2017. The primary outcome was the change in hepatic steatosis assessed using the hepatic proton density fat fraction (PDFF) on MRI before and after treatment with canagliflozin. The secondary outcomes were changes in measures of glucose metabolism, including the hepatic glucose uptake on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, and the inflammation and volumes of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Patients Nine patients with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD completed this study. All participants received canagliflozin at a dose of 100 mg daily. Results Canagliflozin caused a significant reduction in hepatic PDFF from baseline [median 20.6% (interquartile range 11.7%, 29.8%)] after 6 months [10.6% (5.4%, 22.6%), p=0.008]. Canagliflozin also significantly reduced the body weight, glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and volumes of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle (all p<0.05). The reduction in hepatic PDFF was not correlated with changes in the body weight, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, or volume of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle from baseline after six months. Conclusion Among patients with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD, canagliflozin improved hepatic steatosis. The effect may be independent of reducing adiposity, insulin resistance, inflammation, and skeletal muscle volume.

Randomised clinical trial: Pemafibrate, a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α modulator (SPPARMα), versus placebo in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Pemafibrate is a novel, selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α modulator (SPPARMα). In mice, Pemafibrate improved the histological features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In patients with dyslipidaemia, it improved serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

AIMS

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pemafibrate in patients with high-risk, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised multicentre, phase 2 trial randomised 118 patients (1:1) to either 0.2 mg Pemafibrate or placebo, orally, twice daily for 72 weeks. The key inclusion criteria included liver fat content of ≥10% by magnetic resonance imaging-estimated proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF); liver stiffness of ≥2.5 kPa, by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE); and elevated ALT levels. The primary endpoint was the percentage change in MRI-PDFF from baseline to week 24. The secondary endpoints included MRE-based liver stiffness, ALT, serum liver fibrosis markers and lipid parameters.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups in the primary endpoint (-5.3% vs -4.2%; treatment difference -1.0%, P = 0.85). However, MRE-based liver stiffness significantly decreased compared to placebo at week 48 (treatment difference -5.7%, P = 0.036), and was maintained at week 72 (treatment difference -6.2%, P = 0.024), with significant reduction in ALT and LDL-C. Adverse events were comparable between the treatment groups and therapy was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Pemafibrate did not decrease liver fat content but had significant reduction in MRE-based liver stiffness. Pemafibrate may be a promising therapeutic agent for NAFLD/NASH, and also be a candidate for combination therapy with agents that reduce liver fat content. ClinicalTrials.gov, number: NCT03350165.

Protective effect of SGL5213, a potent intestinal sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 inhibitor, in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic disease. SGL5213, which is minimally absorbed and is restricted to the intestinal tract, is a potent intestinal sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) inhibitor. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of SGL5213 in a rodent model of NAFLD.

METHODS

Using a rodent model of NAFLD, we compared SGL5213 efficacy with miglitol, which is an α-glucosidase inhibitor. We used a high-fat and high-sucrose diet-induced NAFLD model.

RESULTS

SGL5213 and miglitol improved obesity, liver dysfunction, insulin resistance, and the NAFLD severity. To further investigate the effects of SGL5213, we analyzed the mRNA expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and liver fibrosis, and cecal pH levels. SGL5213 and miglitol treatment significantly decreased mRNA expression of factors involved in inflammation and liver fibrosis. SGL5213 treatment significantly decreased cecal pH levels, which did not occur with miglitol.

CONCLUSIONS

SGL5213 had a protective effect on the pathogenesis of NAFLD in a rodent model. We considered that inhibiting glucose absorption and increasing glucose content in the gastrointestinal tract with SGL5213 might have contributed to the protective effect in NAFLD. SGL5213 is a promising therapeutic agent for NAFLD with obesity and insulin resistance.

MRE combined with FIB-4 (MEFIB) index in detection of candidates for pharmacological treatment of NASH-related fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with ≥stage 2 fibrosis are at increased risk for liver-related mortality and are candidates for pharmacological therapies for treatment of NAFLD. The aim of this prospective cohort study is to examine the diagnostic accuracy of MR elastography (MRE) combined with fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) in diagnosing ≥stage 2 fibrosis (candidates for pharmacological therapies).

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort (University of California at San Diego (UCSD)-NAFLD) including 238 consecutive patients with contemporaneous MRE and biopsy-proven NAFLD. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-Clinical Research Network-Histologic Scoring System was used to assess histology. The radiologist and pathologist were blinded to clinical, pathological and imaging data, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) were determined to examine the diagnostic accuracy of MRE and FIB-4 for diagnosis of ≥stage 2 fibrosis in NAFLD. We then validated these findings in an independent validation cohort derived from Yokohama City University in Japan (Japan-NAFLD Cohort; N=222 patients).

RESULTS

In the UCSD-NAFLD (training) Cohort, MRE demonstrated a clinically significant diagnostic accuracy for the detection of ≥stage 2 fibrosis with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.93 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.97) vs FIB-4 with an AUROC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.85), which was both clinically and statistically significant (p<0.0001). We then combined MRE with FIB-4 (MRE ≥3.3 kPa and FIB-4 ≥1.6) to develop a clinical prediction rule to rule in ≥stage 2 fibrosis patients which had positive predictive value (PPV) of 97.1% (p<0.02) in the UCSD-NAFLD cohort (AUROC of 0.90 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.95)) which remained significant at PPV of 91.0% (p<0.003) in the Japan-NAFLD Cohort (AUROC of 0.84 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.89)).

CONCLUSION

MRE combined with FIB-4 (MEFIB) index may be used for non-invasive identification of candidates for (≥stage 2 fibrosis) pharmacological therapy among patients with NAFLD with a high PPV.

Relationship between Stool Form and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Constipation: An Internet Questionnaire Survey

INTRODUCTION

Chronic constipation (CC) is a highly prevalent functional bowel disorder with low treatment satisfaction and impaired quality of life (QOL). However, physicians tend to emphasize only "stool frequency," and relationship between "stool form" and QOL remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the actual situation of CC treatment in Japan and elucidate the relationship between stool form and QOL in patients with CC.

METHODS

We conducted an online questionnaire survey in September 2018 targeting Japanese adult patients already diagnosed with CC and taking prescribed drugs. Assessments included the type of drug treatment, treatment duration, frequency of drug use, frequency of bowel movements (BMs), Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and Japanese version of the Patient Assessment of Constipation QOL (PAC-QOL) scores. Relationship between BSFS and Japanese PAC-QOL scores was analyzed, and most important factor that influences QOL was investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 614 subjects were enrolled. Of these, 398 (64.8%) regularly used magnesium oxide and 162 (26.4%) used stimulant laxative, especially 81 (50.0%) used stimulant laxative "everyday." Mean score of the PAC-QOL was 1.29 ± 0.74, and the lowest score (highest QOL) of 0.94 ± 0.61 was observed in BSFS type 4. Significant difference was seen between BSFS type 4 and all the other types except type 7. Multivariate analysis revealed that normal stool form (BSFS type 4) and BMs ≥3/week are strongly related to decreases of PAC-COL score. In BSFS types 6 and 7, 36% of individuals experienced self-discontinuation of prescribed drugs and 53% self-reduced drug intake because of excessive effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Stool form and frequency of BMs are relevant to QOL, especially normal stool form (BSFS type 4) is important for improving the QOL in patients with constipation. Physicians should focus on "stool form" and reconsider the prescription especially in BSFS types 6-7 patients.

Gut microbiota composition associated with hepatic fibrosis in non-obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gut microbiota composition is associated with the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the association between gut microbiota composition and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese patients remains unclear. We compared clinical parameters and gut microbiota profiles of healthy controls and non-obese and obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

METHODS

We examined the clinical parameters and gut microbiota profiles by 16S rRNA sequences and short-chain fatty acid levels in fecal samples from 51 non-obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (body mass index <25 kg/m² ) and 51 obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (body mass index ≥30 kg/m² ) who underwent pathological examination and 87 controls at five hospitals in Japan.

RESULTS

Although no significant differences between the non-obese and other groups were observed in alpha diversity, a significant difference was found in beta diversity. We observed a significant decrease in serum alanine aminotransferase levels, Eubacterium population, and butyric acid levels in non-obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease compared with those in obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A significant negative correlation was found between the stage of hepatic fibrosis and Eubacterium abundance in non-obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The decrease in the abundance of Eubacterium that produces butyric acid may play an important role in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese individuals. This study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network clinical trial registration system (UMIN000020917).

The Role of Leaky Gut in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Novel Therapeutic Target

The liver directly accepts blood from the gut and is, therefore, exposed to intestinal bacteria. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between gut bacteria and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Approximately 10–20% of NAFLD patients develop nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and endotoxins produced by Gram-negative bacilli may be involved in NAFLD pathogenesis. NAFLD hyperendotoxicemia has intestinal and hepatic factors. The intestinal factors include impaired intestinal barrier function (leaky gut syndrome) and dysbiosis due to increased abundance of ethanol-producing bacteria, which can change endogenous alcohol concentrations. The hepatic factors include hyperleptinemia, which is associated with an excessive response to endotoxins, leading to intrahepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Clinically, the relationship between gut bacteria and NAFLD has been targeted in some randomized controlled trials of probiotics and other agents, but the results have been inconsistent. A recent randomized, placebo-controlled study explored the utility of lubiprostone, a treatment for constipation, in restoring intestinal barrier function and improving the outcomes of NAFLD patients, marking a new phase in the development of novel therapies targeting the intestinal barrier. This review summarizes recent data from studies in animal models and randomized clinical trials on the role of the gut–liver axis in NAFLD pathogenesis and progression.

MRI-Based Quantitative R2* Mapping at 3 Tesla Reflects Hepatic Iron Overload and Pathogenesis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients

BACKGROUND

The role of hepatic iron overload (HIO) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of HIO and examine the diagnostic usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based R2^* quantification in evaluating hepatic iron content (HIC) and pathological findings in NAFLD.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective and retrospective.

POPULATION

A prospective study of 168 patients (age, 57.2 ± 15.0; male/female, 80/88) and a retrospective validation study of 202 patients (age, 57.0 ± 14.4; male/female, 113/89) with liver-biopsy-confirmed NAFLD were performed.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

3 T; chemical-shift encoded multi-echo gradient echo.

ASSESSMENT

Using liver tissues obtained by liver biopsy, HIC was prospectively evaluated in 168 patients by atomic absorption spectrometry. Diagnostic accuracies of HIC and R2^* for grading hepatic inflammation plus ballooning (HIB) as an indicator of NAFLD activity were assessed.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Student's t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Scheffe's multiple testing correction for univariate comparisons; multivariate logistic analysis. P-value less than 0.05 is statistically significant.

RESULTS

HIC was significantly correlated with HIB grades (r = 0.407). R2^* was significantly correlated with HIC (r = 0.557) and HIB grades (r = 0.569). R2^* mapped an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC; 0.774) for HIC ≥808 ng/mL (median value) with cutoff value of 62.5 s^-1 . In addition, R2^* mapped AUROC of HIB for grades ≥3 was 0.799 with cutoff value of 58.5 s^-1 . When R2^* was <62.5 s^-1 , R2^* correlated weakly with HIC (r = 0.372) as it was affected by fat deposition and did not correlate with HIB grades (P = 0.052). Conversely, when R2^* was ≥62.5 s^-1 , a significant correlation of R2^* with HIC (r = 0.556) and with HIB grades was observed (P < 0.0001) with being less affected by fat deposition.

DATA CONCLUSION

R2^*  ≥ 62.5 s^-1 is a promising modality for non-invasive diagnosis of clinically important high grades (≥3) of HIB associated with increased HIC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

Ipragliflozin Improves the Hepatic Outcomes of Patients With Diabetes with NAFLD

Sodium glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are now widely used to treat diabetes, but their effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain to be determined. We aimed to evaluate the effects of SGLT2is on the pathogenesis of NAFLD. A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes with NAFLD. The changes in glycemic control, obesity, and liver pathology were compared between participants taking ipragliflozin (50 mg/day for 72 weeks; IPR group) and participants being managed without SGLT2is, pioglitazone, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogs, or insulin (CTR group). In the IPR group (n = 25), there were significant decreases in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) during the study (HbA1c, −0.41%, P < 0.01; BMI, −1.06 kg/m², P < 0.01), whereas these did not change in the CTR group (n = 26). Liver pathology was evaluated in 21/25 participants in the IPR/CTR groups, and hepatic fibrosis was found in 17 (81%) and 18 (72%) participants in the IPR and CTR groups at baseline. This was ameliorated in 70.6% (12 of 17) of participants in the IPR group and 22.2 % (4 of 18) of those in the CTR group (P < 0.01). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) resolved in 66.7% of IPR‐treated participants and 27.3% of CTR participants. None of the participants in the IPR group developed NASH, whereas 33.3% of the CTR group developed NASH. Conclusion: Long‐term ipragliflozin treatment ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Thus, ipragliflozin might be effective for the treatment and prevention of NASH in patients with diabetes, as well as improving glycemic control and obesity. Therefore, SGLT2is may represent a therapeutic choice for patients with diabetes with NAFLD, but further larger studies are required to confirm these effects.

Type IV Collagen 7S Is the Most Accurate Test For Identifying Advanced Fibrosis in NAFLD With Type 2 Diabetes

This study aimed to examine whether the diagnostic accuracy of four noninvasive tests (NITs) for detecting advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is maintained or is inferior to with or without the presence of type 2 diabetes. Overall, 874 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were enrolled. After propensity-score matching by age, sex, and the prevalence of dyslipidemia, 311 patients were enrolled in each group of with or without diabetes. To evaluate the effect of diabetes, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and type IV collagen 7S (COL4-7S) in patients with NAFLD with and without diabetes. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for identifying advanced fibrosis in patients without diabetes were 0.879 for the FIB-4 index, 0.851 for the NFS, 0.862 for the APRI, and 0.883 for COL4-7S. The AUROCs in patients with diabetes were 0.790 for the FIB-4 index, 0.784 for the NFS, 0.771 for the APRI, and 0.872 for COL4-7S. The AUROC of COL4-7S was significantly larger than that of the other NITs in patients with NAFLD with diabetes than in those without diabetes. The optimal high and low cutoff points of COL4-7S were 5.9 ng/mL and 4.8 ng/mL, respectively. At the low cutoff point, the accuracy of COL4-7S was better than that of the other NITs, especially in patients with diabetes. Conclusion: COL4-7S measurement might be the best NIT for identifying advanced fibrosis in NAFLD, especially in NAFLD with diabetes.

Comparison between magnetic resonance and ultrasound-derived indicators of hepatic steatosis in a pooled NAFLD cohort

BACKGROUND & AIMS

MRI-based proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and the ultrasound-derived controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) are non-invasive techniques for quantifying liver fat, which can be used to assess steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study compared both of these techniques to histopathological graded steatosis for the assessment of fat levels in a large pooled NAFLD cohort.

METHODS

This retrospective study pooled N = 581 participants from two suspected NAFLD cohorts (mean age (SD) 56 (12.7), 60% females). Steatosis was graded according to NASH-CRN criteria. Liver fat was measured non-invasively using PDFF (with Liver MultiScan's Iterative Decomposition of water and fat with Echo Asymmetry and Least-squares estimation method, LMS-IDEAL, Perspectum, Oxford) and CAP (FibroScan, Echosens, France), and their diagnostic performances were compared.

RESULTS

LMS-IDEAL and CAP detected steatosis grade ≥ 1 with AUROCs of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99-1.0) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91-0.99), respectively. LMS-IDEAL was superior to CAP for detecting steatosis grade ≥ 2 with AUROCs of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.73-0.82] and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.55-0.65), respectively. Similarly, LMS-IDEAL outperformed CAP for detecting steatosis grade ≥ 3 with AUROCs of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76-0.87) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.56-0.70), respectively.

CONCLUSION

LMS-IDEAL was able to diagnose individuals accurately across the spectrum of histological steatosis grades. CAP performed well in identifying individuals with lower levels of fat (steatosis grade ≥1); however, its diagnostic performance was inferior to LMS-IDEAL for higher levels of fat (steatosis grades ≥2 and ≥3).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03551522); https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03551522. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000026145); https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000026145.

Quantitative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging can aid non-alcoholic steatohepatitis diagnosis in a Japanese cohort

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive assessment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is increasing in desirability due to the invasive nature and costs associated with the current form of assessment; liver biopsy. Quantitative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to measure liver fat (proton density fat fraction) and fibroinflammatory disease [iron-corrected T1 (cT1)], as well as elastography techniques [vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) liver stiffness measure], magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and 2D Shear-Wave elastography (SWE) to measure stiffness and fat (controlled attenuated parameter, CAP) are emerging alternatives which could be utilised as safe surrogates to liver biopsy.

AIM

To evaluate the agreement of non-invasive imaging modalities with liver biopsy, and their subsequent diagnostic accuracy for identifying NASH patients.

METHODS

From January 2019 to February 2020, Japanese patients suspected of NASH were recruited onto a prospective, observational study and were screened using non-invasive imaging techniques; mpMRI with LiverMultiScan^®, VCTE, MRE and 2D-SWE. Patients were subsequently biopsied, and samples were scored by three independent pathologists. The diagnostic performances of the non-invasive imaging modalities were assessed using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with the median of the histology scores as the gold standard diagnoses. Concordance between all three independent pathologists was further explored using Krippendorff’s alpha (a) from weighted kappa statistics.

RESULTS

N = 145 patients with mean age of 60 (SD: 13 years.), 39% females, and 40% with body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m² were included in the analysis. For identifying patients with NASH, MR liver fat and cT1 were the strongest performing individual measures (AUC: 0.80 and 0.75 respectively), and the mpMRI metrics combined (cT1 and MR liver fat) were the overall best non-invasive test (AUC: 0.83). For identifying fibrosis ≥ 1, MRE performed best (AUC: 0.97), compared to VCTE-liver stiffness measure (AUC: 0.94) and 2D-SWE (AUC: 0.94). For assessment of steatosis ≥ 1, MR liver fat was the best performing non-invasive test (AUC: 0.92), compared to controlled attenuated parameter (AUC: 0.75). Assessment of the agreement between pathologists showed that concordance was best for steatosis (a = 0.58), moderate for ballooning (a = 0.40) and fibrosis (a = 0.40), and worst for lobular inflammation (a = 0.11).

CONCLUSION

Quantitative mpMRI is an effective alternative to liver biopsy for diagnosing NASH and non-alcoholic fatty liver, and thus may offer clinical utility in patient management.

FIB-4 First in the Diagnostic Algorithm of Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in the Era of the Global Metabodemic

The prevalence of obesity or metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide (globally metabodemic). Approximately 25% of the adult general population is suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which has become a serious health problem. In 2020, global experts suggested that the nomenclature of NAFLD should be updated to metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Hepatic fibrosis is the most significant determinant of all cause- and liver -related mortality in MAFLD. The non-invasive test (NIT) is urgently required to evaluate hepatic fibrosis in MAFLD. The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index is the first triaging tool for excluding advanced fibrosis because of its accuracy, simplicity, and cheapness, especially for general physicians or endocrinologists, although the FIB-4 index has several drawbacks. Accumulating evidence has suggested that vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test may become useful as the second step after triaging by the FIB-4 index. The leading cause of mortality in MAFLD is cardiovascular disease (CVD), extrahepatic malignancy, and liver-related diseases. MAFLD often complicates chronic kidney disease (CKD), resulting in increased simultaneous liver kidney transplantation. The FIB-4 index could be a predictor of not only liver-related mortality and incident hepatocellular carcinoma, but also prevalent and incident CKD, CVD, and extrahepatic malignancy. Although NITs as milestones for evaluating treatment efficacy have never been established, the FIB-4 index is expected to reflect histological hepatic fibrosis after treatment in several longitudinal studies. We here review the role of the FIB-4 index in the management of MAFLD.

Comparing the effects of tofogliflozin and pioglitazone in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (ToPiND study): a randomized prospective open-label controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The treatment of diabetes has a significant impact on the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We compared the effectiveness of tofogliflozin, a selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, and pioglitazone for the treatment of NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This open-label, prospective, single-center, randomized clinical trial recruited NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a hepatic fat fraction of at least 10% as assessed based on the MRI-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). Eligible patients were stratified according to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), alanine transaminase, and MRI-PDFF levels and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either 20 mg tofogliflozin or 15-30 mg pioglitazone, orally, once daily for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was an absolute change in MRI-PDFF at 24 weeks. Efficacy and safety was assessed in all treated patients. This trial was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials.

RESULTS

Overall, 40 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive tofogliflozin (n=21) or pioglitazone (n=19). Changes in hepatic steatosis after 24 weeks of treatment were evaluated by MRI-PDFF, which showed a significant decrease in both groups (-7.54% (p<0.0001) and -4.12% (p=0.0042) in the pioglitazone and tofogliflozin groups, respectively). Compared with baseline, the body weight decreased by 2.83±2.86 kg (-3.6%, p=0.0443) in the tofogliflozin group and increased by 1.39±2.62 kg (1.7%, p=0.0002) in the pioglitazone group after 24 weeks. No life-threatening events or treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Tofogliflozin was well tolerated, and it reduced the MRI-PDFF levels in NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

jRCTs031180159.

Vitamin B6 efficacy in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, single-center trial

Vitamin B6 is an important cofactor in fat metabolism and its deficiency has been correlated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, no study has investigated the efficacy of vitamin B6 supplementation in these patients. The aim of this open-label, single-arm, single-center study was to examine the therapeutic effect of vitamin B6 in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Twenty-two patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease received vitamin B6 (90 mg/day) orally for 12 weeks. Clinical parameters were evaluated, and liver fat and fibrosis were quantified before and after treatment using magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction and magnetic resonance elastography. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels, the primary endpoint, did not change significantly after vitamin B6 treatment (93.6 ± 46.9 to 93.9 ± 46.6, p = 0.976). On the other hand, magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction, a parameter of hepatic lipid accumulation, was significantly reduced (18.7 ± 6.1 to 16.4 ± 6.4, p<0.001) despite no significant changes in body mass index, even in those not taking vitamin E (n = 17, 18.8 ± 6.9 to 16.7 ± 7.3, p = 0.0012). Vitamin B6 administration significantly ameliorated hepatic fat accumulation. As an inexpensive agent with few side effects, vitamin B6 could be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Endotoxins and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. It occurs with a prevalence of up to 25%, of which 10-20% cases progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The histopathology of NASH is characterized by neutrophilic infiltration, and endotoxins from gram-negative rods have been postulated as a contributing factor. Elevations in endotoxin levels in the blood can be classified as intestinal and hepatic factors. In recent years, leaky gut syndrome, which is characterized by impaired intestinal barrier function, has become a significant issue. A leaky gut may prompt intestinal bacteria dysbiosis and increase the amount of endotoxin that enters the liver from the portal vein. These contribute to persistent chronic inflammation and progressive liver damage. In addition, hepatic factors suggest that liver damage can be induced by low-dose endotoxins, which does not occur in healthy individuals. In particular, increased expression of CD14, an endotoxin co-receptor in the liver, may result in leptin-induced endotoxin hyper-responsiveness in obese individuals. Thus, elevated blood endotoxin levels contribute to the progression of NASH. The current therapeutic targets for NASH treat steatosis and liver inflammation and fibrosis. While many clinical trials are underway, no studies have been performed on therapeutic agents that target the intestinal barrier. Recently, a randomized placebo-controlled trial examined the role of the intestinal barrier in patients with NAFLD. To our knowledge, this study was the first of its kind and study suggested that the intestinal barrier may be a novel target in the future treatment of NAFLD.

Eradication of hepatitis C virus with direct-acting antivirals improves glycemic control in diabetes: A multicenter study

Background and Aim

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes insulin resistance and diabetes as extrahepatic manifestations. We aimed to analyze the effect of HCV eradication by direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) agents on glucose tolerance.

Methods

The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 272 patients with HCV infection who achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) was analyzed at baseline before DAA treatment, at the end of DAA therapy (ETR), and 12 weeks after therapy (Post12W).

Results

There were no significant differences in HbA1c between baseline, ETR, and Post12W in the overall patients. When the data were stratified according to the presence or absence of diabetes, median HbA1c significantly decreased from baseline (7.2%) to ETR (6.8%) and Post12W (6.8%) in the 55 patients with diabetes, whereas there were no significant changes in the patients without diabetes. Basal HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and age were independently associated with the changes in HbA1c according to multivariate analysis, and the predictive formula for changes in HbA1c was found to be ΔHbA1c (%) = 1.449–0.4* HbA1c (%) + 0.012 × Age (year). There were no changes in body mass in diabetic or nondiabetic patients. In diabetic patients taking medication, 63.4% of patients needed less medication.

Conclusions

Eradication of HCV improves glycemic control, indicated by a 0.4% decrease in HbA1c in diabetes.

Magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of pathological hepatic findings in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is expected to increase because of the current epidemics of obesity and diabetes, and NAFLD has become a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Liver fibrosis is associated with poor long-term outcomes in patients with NAFLD. Additionally, increased mortality and liver-related complications are primarily seen in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); however, nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is believed to be benign and non-progressive. Therefore, distinguishing between NASH and NAFL is clinically important. Liver biopsy is the gold standard method for the staging of liver fibrosis and distinguishing between NASH and NAFL. Unfortunately, liver biopsy is an invasive and expensive procedure. Therefore, noninvasive methods, to replace biopsy, are urgently needed for the staging of liver fibrosis and diagnosing NASH. In this review, we discuss the recent studies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including magnetic resonance elastography, proton density fat fraction measurement, and multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) that can be used in the assessment of NASH components such as liver fibrosis, steatosis, and liver injury including inflammation and ballooning.

Rationale and design of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, investigator-initiated phase 2a study to investigate the efficacy and safety of elobixibat in combination with cholestyramine for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

INTRODUCTION

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis involves abnormal metabolism of cholesterol and hepatic accumulation of toxic free-cholesterol. Elobixibat (EXB) inhibits the ileal bile acid (BA) transporter. EXB and cholestyramine (CTM) facilitate the removal of free cholesterol from the liver by decreasing BA recirculation to the liver, thereby stimulating novel BA synthesis from cholesterol. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase IIa study, we aim to provide a proof-of-concept assessment by evaluating the efficacy and safety of EXB in combination with CTM in patients with NAFLD.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A total of 100 adult patients with NAFLD, diagnosed based on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level of >120 mg/dL and liver fat content of ≥8% by MRI-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be enrolled. The patients will be randomly assigned to receive the combination therapy of 10 mg EXB and 9 g CTM powder (4 g CTM), 10 mg EXB monotherapy, 9 g CTM powder monotherapy or a placebo treatment (n=25 per group). Blood tests and MRIs will be performed 16 weeks following treatment initiation. The primary study endpoint will be the absolute LDL-C level change at week 16 after treatment initiation. The exploratory endpoint will include absolute changes in the liver fat fraction as measured by MRI-PDFF. This proof-of-concept study will determine whether the combination therapy of EXB and CTM is effective and safe for patients with NAFLD.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Yokohama City University Hospital before participant enrolment. The results of this study will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and the key findings will be presented at international scientific conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04235205.

Lubiprostone in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2a trial

BACKGROUND

The laxative drug lubiprostone improves intestinal permeability in healthy volunteers. We aimed to assess efficacy and safety of lubiprostone in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with constipation via attenuation of intestinal permeability.

METHODS

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2a study in Yokohama City University Hospital, Japan, recruited patients (aged 20-85 years) with NAFLD and constipation, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at least 40 U/L, liver stiffness (≤6·7 kPa), and hepatic fat fraction at least 5·2% when assessed by MRI-proton density fat fraction. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (11:10:9) by a computer-based system and stratified by age and sex to receive 24 μg lubiprostone, 12 μg lubiprostone, or placebo, orally, once per day for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the absolute changes in ALT at 12 weeks. Efficacy analysis was done by intention to treat. Safety was assessed in all treated patients. This trial was registered with University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000026635).

FINDINGS

Between March 24, 2017, and April 3, 2018, we screened 288 patients, of whom 150 (52%) were randomly assigned to treatment: 55 patients were assigned to receive 24 μg lubiprostone, 50 to receive 12 μg lubiprostone, and 45 to receive placebo. A greater decrease in the absolute ALT levels from baseline to 12 weeks was seen in the 24 μg lubiprostone group (mean -13 U/L [SD 19]) than in the placebo group (1 U/L [24]; mean difference -15 U/L [95% CI -23 to -6], p=0·0007) and in the 12 μg lubiprostone group (-12 U/L [21]) than in the placebo group (mean difference -13 U/L [-22 to -5], p=0·0023). 18 (33%) of 55 patients in the 24 μg group had at least one adverse event, as did three (6%) of 47 patients in the 12 μg group and three (7%) of 43 in the placebo group. The most common adverse event was diarrhoea (17 [31%] of patients in the 24 μg group, three [6%] in the 12 μg group, none in the placebo group). No life-threatening events or treatment-related deaths occurred.

INTERPRETATION

Lubiprostone was well tolerated and reduced the levels of liver enzymes in patients with NAFLD and constipation. Further studies are necessary to better define the efficacy and tolerability of lubiprostone in patients with NAFLD without constipation.

FUNDING

Mylan EPD G.K.

Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver-related mortality, and liver transplantation. There is sufficient epidemiological cohort data to recommend the surveillance of patients with NAFLD based upon the incidence of HCC. The American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) expert review published in 2020 recommends that NAFLD patients with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis estimated by non-invasive tests (NITs) consider HCC surveillance. NITs include the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test, FibroScan, and MR elastography. The recommended surveillance modality is abdominal ultrasound (US), which is cost effective and noninvasive with good sensitivity. However, US is limited in obese patients and those with NAFLD. In NAFLD patients with a high likelihood of having an inadequate US, or if an US is attempted but inadequate, CT or MRI may be utilized. The GALAD score, consisting of age, gender, AFP, the lens culinaris-agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and the protein induced by the absence of vitamin K or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), can help identify a high risk of HCC in NAFLD patients. Innovative parameters, including a Mac-2 binding protein glycated isomer, type IV collagen 7S, free apoptosis inhibitor of the macrophage, and a combination of single nucleoside polymorphisms, are expected to be established. Considering the large size of the NAFLD population, optimal screening tests must meet several criteria, including high sensitivity, cost effectiveness, and availability.