Lobeglitazone, a Novel Thiazolidinedione, Improves Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetes: Its Efficacy and Predictive Factors Related to Responsiveness

Lee, Yong-ho; Kim, Jae Hyeon; Kim, So Ra; Jin, Heung Yong; Rhee, Eun-Jung; Cho, Young Min; Lee, Byung-Wan

Despite the increasing number of patients being diagnosed with NAFLD, there are no optimal therapeutic agents to manage NAFLD. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) have recommended vitamin E supplementation for NAFLD patients without diabetes, and thiazolidinediones (TZDs) for NAFLD patients with diabetes (5) . TZDs are potent peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists that lower blood glucose levels by ameliorating systemic insulin sensitivity and inflammation (13) . Recently, a novel TZD called lobeglitazone was developed, and is currently being prescribed for T2D in Korea (14) . The efficacy and safety of lobeglitazone in T2D has been well-investigated (15) (16) (17) . To identify better treatment options for T2D patients with NAFLD, we investigated the effects of lobeglitazone on these patients by analyzing alterations in their CAP values using transient liver elastography, as well as in their glycemic, lipid, and liver profiles.