This specific type of liver disease develops when the liver has difficulty breaking down fats and causes a buildup in the tissue which prevents it from functioning properly.
Currently, one in three people worldwide is affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD). Of those affected, approximately 25 percent progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This can lead to liver scarring, medical referred to as fibrosis and eventually to cirrhosis. The stage of fibrosis is highly associated with the risk for poor outcomes.
People at Risk
Fatty liver disease is often linked to:
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- High intake of cholesterol or added sugar
Symptoms
Patients often do not have noticeable symptoms of fatty liver disease. It is most commonly discovered through elevated liver enzymes during routine blood work or abnormal liver appearance on imaging tests. Some people display symptoms of:
- Fatigue
- Discomfort or pain in the right upper abdomen
- Patients with advanced liver disease (cirrhosis) may develop additional symptoms
Diagnosis
The key to diagnosing someone with MASLD is to identify those who have already developed MASH and fibrosis. OSU provides the latest testing to confirm these diagnoses. Besides an ultrasound, CT (computed tomography), or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), we also offer:
- Fibroscan: A simple, clinic-performed liver scan to check fibrosis
- MR elastography: A more sophisticated and reliable imaging test to check liver fibrosis
- MR PDFF: An imaging test used to quantify the liver fat
- Liver biopsy: A tissue sample removed from the liver by needle for examination. Currently, this is the most reliable test to diagnose MASH and fibrosis
Treatment
Our metabolic liver clinic provides multidisciplinary treatment for patients with MASLD. We partner closely with experts in bariatric surgery, endocrinology, and nutrition to create a personalized treatment plan to help you manage your disease.
- Lifestyle modification: This is the best defense against MASLD symptoms. Our comprehensive wellness program will help provide you with weight management and nutritional tools to help alleviate symptoms of fatty liver disease.
- Patient education class: Basics of diet and exercise for fatty liver by Razan Hallak, RD
Where: Virtual class via Zoom
When: The 3rd Monday of every month from 3:30-4:30pm
How: call 614-293-6255 to schedule
- Patient education class: Basics of diet and exercise for fatty liver by Razan Hallak, RD
- FDA approved medical therapy
- Resmetirom (Rezdiffra) for MASH with stage 2-3 fibrosis
From our experts
Fatty Liver Disease Clinical Trials
Currently there are multiple phase II and III clinical trials being conducted globally for NASH treatment. Please contact our liver specialists or research coordinator Gabrielle Volk (Gabrielle.Volk@osumc.edu) if you are interested in participating.
A seamless, adaptive, phase 2b/3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, international study evaluating the efficacy and safety of belapectin for the prevention of esophageal varices in NASH cirrhosis.
Status: Active enrollment
Sponsor: Galectin Therapeutics
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 3 study evaluating long-term efficacy and safety of lanifibranor in adult patients with non-cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis-2 (F2)/fibrosis 3 (F3) stage of liver fibrosis.
Status: Active enrollment
Sponsor: Inventiva
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
The effect of semaglutide in subjects with non-cirrhotic NASH (phase 3).
Status: Active enrollment
Sponsor: Novo Nordisk
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
Efficacy and safety investigation of NNC0194-0499 co-administered with semaglutide in subjects with NASH: a dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial (phase 2).
Status: Enrollment completed
Sponsor: Novo Nordisk
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
Weight, energy, lipids, and the liver (WELL) study: Dietary fat quality and ectopic lipids in the liver.
Status: Enrollment completed
Sponsor: Communique USA
Primary investigator: Martha Ann Belury, PhD, RD
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, Phase III trial evaluating long-term efficacy and safety of survodutide weekly injections in adult participants with noncirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/metabolic associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH) and (F2) - (F3) stage of liver fibrosis.
Status: Being activated
Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
A Phase III double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate liver-related clinical outcomes and safety of once weekly injected survodutide in participants with compensated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis/metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH) cirrhosis.
Status: Being activated
Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
A Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pegozafermin in Subjects with Compensated Cirrhosis due to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).
Status: Being activated
Sponsor: 89Bio
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
A PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY EVALUATING THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF DENIFANSTAT IN PATIENTS WITH NON-CIRRHOTIC METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION-ASSOCIATED STEATOHEPATITIS (MASH) AND FIBROSIS.
Status: Being activated
Sponsor: Sagimet biosciences
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD
A PHASE 3, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY EVALUATING THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF DENIFANSTAT IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION-ASSOCIATED STEATOTIC LIVER DISEASE (MASLD) / METABOLIC DYSFUNCTION-ASSOCIATED STEATOHEPATITIS (FASCINIT).
Status: Being activated
Sponsor: Sagimet biosciences
Primary investigator: Na Li, MD, PhD