Changes in liver steatosis and liver stiffness following Empagliflozin treatment in patients with MASLD and type 2 diabetes: A single-arm pre-post study.
- 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
- 2Nephrology Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- 3Department of Endocrinology, Farhikhtegan Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is common in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), being linked to a higher risk for the development of liver-related and cardiovascular diseases. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors such as empagliflozin have demonstrated possible hepatoprotective effects in previous research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in liver enzymes, hepatic steatosis, and liver stiffness following 12 weeks of empagliflozin treatment in patients with T2DM and MASLD.Methods
In this nonrandomized, single-arm interventional study, 30 patients with T2DM and MASLD were treated simultaneously with empagliflozin 25 mg/day for 12 weeks in addition to the ongoing management. Liver function tests (ALT and AST), hepatic fat content (CAP score), and liver stiffness (LSM) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks treatment.Results
There were significant decreases in mean AST (80.27 ± 10.51 vs. 45.20 ± 3.20 U/L, P < 0.001) and ALT (86.33 ± 9.11 vs. 44.63 ± 3.62 U/L, P < 0.001) levels after treatment. The CAP score decreased from 321.83 ± 49.36 to 261.33 ± 35.14 (P < 0.001), and the LSM value decreased from 7.22 ± 1.04 to 6.24 ± 0.41 (P < 0.001).Conclusion
In this single-arm pre-post study, 12 weeks of empagliflozin treatment was associated with significant reductions in liver enzyme levels, hepatic steatosis, and liver stiffness in patients with T2DM and MASLD. Larger controlled studies are required to determine whether these changes are attributable to empagliflozin and to assess their durability.
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BibTeX
@article{shieh2026changes,
title = {{Changes in liver steatosis and liver stiffness following Empagliflozin treatment in patients with MASLD and type 2 diabetes: A single-arm pre-post study.}},
author = {Mobina Shieh and Davood Dalil and Alireza Arefzadeh and Maryam Shiehmorteza},
journal = {Journal of diabetes investigation},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1111/jdi.70484},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42969364},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Changes in liver steatosis and liver stiffness following Empagliflozin treatment in patients with MASLD and type 2 diabetes: A single-arm pre-post study.
AU - Mobina Shieh
AU - Davood Dalil
AU - Alireza Arefzadeh
AU - Maryam Shiehmorteza
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Journal of diabetes investigation
DO - 10.1111/jdi.70484
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42969364
AB - Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is common in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), being linked to a higher risk for the development of liver-related and cardiovascular diseases. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors such as empagliflozin have demonstrated possible hepatoprotective effects in previous research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in liver enzymes, hepatic steatosis, and liver stiffness following 12 weeks of empagliflozin treatment in patients with T2DM and MASLD.Methods In this nonrandomized, single-arm interventional study, 30 patients with T2DM and MASLD were treated simultaneously with empagliflozin 25 mg/day for 12 weeks in addition to the ongoing management. Liver function tests (ALT and AST), hepatic fat content (CAP score), and liver stiffness (LSM) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks treatment.Results There were significant decreases in mean AST (80.27 ± 10.51 vs. 45.20 ± 3.20 U/L, P < 0.001) and ALT (86.33 ± 9.11 vs. 44.63 ± 3.62 U/L, P < 0.001) levels after treatment. The CAP score decreased from 321.83 ± 49.36 to 261.33 ± 35.14 (P < 0.001), and the LSM value decreased from 7.22 ± 1.04 to 6.24 ± 0.41 (P < 0.001).Conclusion In this single-arm pre-post study, 12 weeks of empagliflozin treatment was associated with significant reductions in liver enzyme levels, hepatic steatosis, and liver stiffness in patients with T2DM and MASLD. Larger controlled studies are required to determine whether these changes are attributable to empagliflozin and to assess their durability.
SN - 2040-1116
SN - 2040-1124
ER -