Agonistas de los receptores GLP-1 en enfermedad hepática esteatósica asociada a disfunción metabólica: una revisión bibliográfica

Abstract

Metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in at least 5% of hepatocytes, occurring in the absence of alcohol consumption or prolonged medication use, leading to inflammation and organ damage, making it the second leading cause of liver transplantation. Hence, new therapeutic alternatives have been sought, such as the implementation of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are traditionally used as antidiabetic drugs but have shown multiple benefits in MAFDL, so it is essential to identify their mechanism of action against it. These drugs have been found to provide various benefits, including reducing hepatic steatosis by decreasing visceral fat through weight control, promoting de novo lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation, and improving insulin signaling pathways. However, despite the multiple benefits provided by these drugs, it has been determined that more trials should be conducted to provide further clinical evidence. The gold standard for diagnosis is biopsy, but other non-invasive techniques, such as ultrasound, elastography, and molecular biomarkers, are being implemented due to their multiple limitations.