Long-term empagliflozin therapy improves levels of hepatic fibrosis marker in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The long-term outcomes of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors remain indeterminate. Empagliflozin improves hyperglycemia by increasing glucose excretion in the urine, and it reduces fat volume and insulin resistance. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of long-term empagliflozin therapy on hepatic inflammation, function and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. This is a two-center retrospective observational study including patients with NAFLD complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. Changes in parameters were investigated over one-year empagliflozin treatment. Twenty-four patients treated with empagliflozin were evaluated. Weight, body mass index, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance significantly decreased during treatment (p < 0.05). Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, a marker of hepatic function, was significantly improved (p < 0.01). The FIB-4 index and Mac-2 Binding Protein Glucosylation Isomer, markers of hepatic fibrosis, significantly improved (p < 0.01). One-year empagliflozin treatment of patients with NAFLD complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly improves markers of hepatic inflammation, function and fibrosis. J. Med. Invest. 67 : 280-284, August, 2020.