Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Pathogenesis, complications and pharmacological treatment
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Pathogenesis of MASLD has been considerably heterogenous. Increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, adipose tissue dysfunction, genetic predisposition, epigenetic mechanism, and other related factors have been associated with the development and progression of MASLD. Patients with MASLD are at high risk of not only adverse liver-related outcomes, including hepatocellular carcinoma, but also cardiometabolic disease including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Weight loss is the cornerstone of therapy among the various treatments for MASLD to decrease hepatic fat accumulation and delay the progression of inflammation and fibrosis. Resmetirom and semaglutide are approved for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced fibrosis, and many drugs are under investigation. Careful attention should be paid to the screening of MASLD, and concerted efforts should be made to manage it appropriately. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).
Source: EXCLI journal
Authors: Kyung-Soo Kim, Soo Lim, Cheol-Young Park
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214020286