Drugs such as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy have made news for their abilities to treat diabetes and encourage weight loss. These drugs, called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, are now being investigated for their ability to help other patients, including those with liver disease. For example, GLP-1 agonists are being studied for their use in treating .
Researchers at the University of Michigan, however, recently published a in about the first known case of hepatitis and jaundice in a patient taking tirzepatide, an antidiabetic GLP-1 agonist. To give a clearer understanding of the potential benefits and risks of GLP-1 agonists for patients with liver disease, Robert Fontana, M.D.
, a Michigan Medicine hepatologist, professor of medicine and the lead author on that research letter, answers the following questions on the topic. As a hepatologist, why are you interested in GLP-1 agonist drugs like semaglutide or tirzepatide? My primary interest is in helping patients with . Between 40 to 50% of the entire United States population is overweight or obese.
And among them, a large proportion have underlying fat in their liver. And many of these patients are at risk for progressive liver disease if left untreated, including adolescents and young adults. I would like to catch these patients early and work with their to help them lose weight and improve their liver profile.
But that's not often the reality. For me as a doctor, when I see patients in my clinic who have f.