title: Effect of telmisartan on histological activity and fibrosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A 1-year randomized control trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telmisartan can attenuate two hit pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study aimed to observe the effect of Telmisartan on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS) and fibrosis score in NASH patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 NASH patients were randomized; 35 of group 1 were treated with Telmisartan 40/80 mg once daily with life style modification (TL) and 15 of group 2 underwent only life style modification (L) for 1 year. At the end, 20 of TL group and 10 of L group were analyzed. Those who showed NAS improvement ≥ 2 or NAS improvement ≥ 1 with fibrosis improvement ≥ 1 were considered as responders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), insulin resistance index, components of metabolic syndrome, age, and sex were similar in both groups. At the end of study, NAS improvement in TL and L groups was 2.15 ± 1.66 and 1.10 ± 0.57 (P = 0.017) and fibrosis improvement was 0.65 ± 0.93 and -0.30 ± 0.48 (P = 0.001), respectively. NAS improved by ≥ 2 in 13 (65%) and 2 (20%) patients and fibrosis score improved by ≥ 1 in 8 (40%) patients and none of the patients in TL group and L group, respectively. Telmisartan and life style modification could improve steatosis, ballooning, lobular inflammation, and fibrosis. Life style modification could improve ballooning only, but fibrosis deteriorated. TL group showed improvement in NAS and fibrosis score [P value: 0.035; odds ratio (OR) =92.07, confidence interval (CI) =1.39-6106] to the level of response by regression analysis. Weight reduction and improvement of metabolic syndrome did not influence the response. There were similar minor adverse events in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telmisartan improved NAS and fibrosis score in NASH with insignificant adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Shahinul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Jahangir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.forename: Golam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: UtpalDas
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: S K M Nazmul
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: A K M Khorshed
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000077333:Telmisartan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001565:Benzoates; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077333:Telmisartan
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