In comparison, 77% of patients in the empagliflozin group had a decrease in liver fat, 23% had no change, and no patients saw an increase in liver fat.
When comparing levels of hemoglobin A1c between the two groups, both had a similarly significant reduction of around 2%, which Dr. Kuchay attributes to deliberate intervention by investigators.
Further studies will need to be conducted regarding the long-term effects of this treatment; however, using SGLT-2 to reduce liver fat could be a boon to preventing more serious liver diseases, concluded Dr. Kuchay.
“There are studies in which liver fat reduction led to improvement in inflammation and fibrosis,” said Dr. Kuchay in response to a question from the audience. “Because liver fat accumulation is the first inhibitor in the pathogenesis of more severe forms of liver disease, reducing liver fat should help improve patient outcomes.”
Dr. Kuchay reported no relevant financial disclosures.
Source: M. Kuchay et al. ENDO 2018, Abstract OR27-2.