Pharmacotherapy for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: heart-liver co-management.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects approximately 30% of adults, with about 30% of cases progressing to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with MASH, highlighting the need for integrated heart-liver co-management. MASLD and cardiovascular disease share common pathophysiological mechanisms, including insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, atherogenic dyslipidaemia, and oxidative stress, creating a bidirectional interplay that drives disease progression. Effective management of MASLD requires addressing not only hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, but also managing cardiovascular risk. Current clinical practice and trials face several challenges, including the underdiagnosis of MASLD, poor collaboration between hepatologists and cardiologists, and a paucity of pharmacological options that safely target both the liver and heart. This Review covers three main pharmacological approaches: metabolic-targeted therapies, which improve the upstream metabolic milieu; liver-targeted therapies, which focus on MASH and fibrosis, but require further evaluation for cardiovascular safety; and cardiovascular therapies, which might provide hepatoprotective effects, but need further study. This Review discusses the benefits and limitations of these pharmacotherapies, emphasising the importance of an integrated heart-liver co-management approach to improve clinical outcomes for patients living with MASLD.
Cardiovascular diseases
Care/Management

Authors

Zhou Zhou, Lazarus Lazarus, Krittanawong Krittanawong, Targher Targher, Byrne Byrne, Younossi Younossi, Tacke Tacke, Chen Chen, Mantzoros Mantzoros, Tilg Tilg, Mehal Mehal, Sperling Sperling, Lip Lip, Stefan Stefan, Zheng Zheng
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