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Background/Objectives
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is highly prevalent in China. Clinical evidence supporting the role of polyenyl phosphatidylcholine (PPC) in delaying liver fibrosis in patients with MAFLD is limited. Hence this study evaluated the effectiveness of PPC and its association with delaying progression of liver fibrosis in patients with MAFLD in China.
Methods
This multicenter, retrospective observational study included patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or ≥2 metabolic dysregulations. Patients from the MAFLD cohort were divided into two groups to receive either PPC or control (no hepatoprotective treatment). The primary endpoint was the change in baseline fibrosis (FIB)-4 index at 12 and 24 weeks. The secondary endpoint involved comparison of changes in liver enzymes and blood lipid levels.
Results
Among 22,705 patients with MAFLD who were treated with hepatoprotective drugs, 7,093 received PPC. Significant reduction in baseline fibrosis was observed at 24 weeks (PPC: −0.12 ± 0.62 vs. control: 0.11 ± 0.50, p = 0.034). Baseline aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels significantly improved at 12 weeks (PPC: −6.25 ± 15.18 vs. control: −2.41 ± 15.40; p = 0.0392). In the PPC group, baseline alanine transaminase (ALT) levels decreased at 12- and 24-weeks compared to those of the control group, but results were not significant. PPC significantly reduced baseline total bilirubin at 12 weeks ( p = 0.0122) and 24 weeks ( p = 0.0010), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at 12 weeks ( p = 0.0442).
Conclusion
PPC treatment can lower the risk of liver fibrosis and improve liver function and lipid profiles. Further validation is warranted in other ethnic groups in larger cohorts.
Details
1 Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2 Beijing North Medical and Health Economic Research Center, Beijing, China
3 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
4 Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
5 Center of Liver Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
6 Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
7 Peking University Hepatology Institute, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
8 Clinical School of the Second People's Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China, Department of Hepatology, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
9 Department of Traditional and Western Medical Hepatology, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
10 Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
11 Nattermann & Cie. GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
12 Opella, Beijing, China
13 Opella, São Paulo, Brazil
14 Opella, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France