Impact of Short-Term Liraglutide Therapy on Non-Invasive Markers of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with MASLD

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Affecting close to one-third of the global population, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a highly prevalent chronic liver disorder linked to metabolic risk factors such as obesity and insulin resistance. Liver fibrosis is a key determinant of prognosis, and its progression increases the risk of liver-related and overall mortality. This exploratory research evaluated the potential impact of a 3-month intervention involving dietary counseling and liraglutide therapy on liver fibrosis and related metabolic markers in patients with MASLD and obesity without diabetes. Methods: In this prospective, single-arm exploratory intervention, 28 adult patients with MASLD and obesity received structured dietary counseling and daily subcutaneous liraglutide for 12 weeks. Liver fibrosis was assessed using non-invasive indices (FIB-4, APRI, BARD, ELF) and transient elastography performed with the FibroScan® device (Echosens, Paris, France). Results: After 3 months, a significant reduction in liver stiffness (−7.14%, p < 0.05) and ELF score (from 6.71 to 6.63; −1.2%, p < 0.05) was observed. APRI (p = 0.06) and FIB-4 (p = 0.09) showed trends toward improvement, while the BARD score and AST/ALT ratio remained unchanged. Conclusions: Short-term liraglutide therapy combined with lifestyle modification may improve early-stage liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD and obesity, as indicated by reductions in liver stiffness and ELF score. These preliminary findings highlight the potential of advanced non-invasive fibrosis markers in monitoring treatment response. However, as an exploratory study, results should be interpreted with caution, and larger, long-term trials are needed to confirm these observations and evaluate efficacy in patients with more advanced fibrosis stages.