McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston likewise contributed funding for this study.Understanding MASLD and Its Prevalence in HIV PatientsPreviously understood as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, MASLD is characterized by the build-up of excess fat in the liver that is not caused by alcohol usage or viral liver disease. An approximated 30-40% of individuals with HIV experience MASLD, slightly higher than the average amongst people without HIV. Semaglutide is an antidiabetic medication approved for usage in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti-obesity medication used for long-term weight management.Detailed Study Outcomes and Participant DemographicsThe Phase 2b pilot research study registered individuals with HIV and MASLD aged 18 years and older whose viral load– the quantity of HIV in the blood– was reduced to undetected levels by antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Transmission electron micrograph of HIV-1 virus particles (yellow) duplicating from the plasma membrane of an H9 T cell (purple and pink). Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAIDA scientific trial showed that semaglutide safely minimized liver fat by 31% in individuals with HIV and MASLD. This first research study of its kind, carried out globally with assistance from numerous health institutions, also observed improvements in weight, blood sugar level, and triglycerides, suggesting semaglutides more comprehensive restorative potential.A weekly injection of semaglutide was safe and lowered the quantity of fat in the liver by 31% in individuals with HIV and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), according to a presentation today at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver.This is the first scientific trial of semaglutide for MASLD in people with HIV. The research study was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and performed in the United States and Brazil by ACTG, a global medical trials network focused on HIV and other transmittable diseases. ACTG is moneyed by NIAID and teaming up NIH institutes. McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston likewise contributed financing for this study.Understanding MASLD and Its Prevalence in HIV PatientsPreviously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, MASLD is characterized by the accumulation of excess fat in the liver that is not brought on by alcohol intake or viral liver disease. Gradually, fat deposits might trigger inflammation and cellular damage, and can result in cardiovascular and liver disease. MASLD likewise is connected with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.It is the most typical reason for persistent liver illness in the United States, and a prominent reason for liver transplantation. An approximated 30-40% of people with HIV experience MASLD, slightly higher than the average among people without HIV. Semaglutide is an antidiabetic medication approved for usage in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti-obesity medication utilized for long-term weight management.Detailed Study Outcomes and Participant DemographicsThe Phase 2b pilot study enrolled individuals with HIV and MASLD aged 18 years and older whose viral load– the amount of HIV in the blood– was suppressed to undetected levels by antiretroviral treatment (ART). Participants varied with regard to ethnicity, gender, age, and race. Of the 49 individuals consisted of in the analysis, 40 (82%) were taking ART programs consisting of an integrase strand transfer inhibitor, which is a class of antiretroviral drugs revealed to be highly effective at suppressing HIV but connected with weight gain in some people.Participants self-injected semaglutide on a weekly basis at increasing dosages till they reached a 1 milligram dose at week four and took part in frequent safety tracking visits. At 24 weeks, the research study group examined modifications in individuals liver fat content utilizing a kind of MRI particularly created to determine the quantity of fat in the liver.Participants experienced an average 31% decrease in liver fat, with 29% of participants experiencing a complete resolution of MASLD, suggesting their liver fat reduced to 5% or less of overall liver material. They likewise experienced weight loss, decreased fasting blood glucose (the quantity of sugar in the blood), and lowered fasting triglycerides (a kind of fat in the blood), consistent with results observed in studies of semaglutide in people without HIV.A separate analysis revealed the volume of psoas muscle– a large muscle linking the upper body to the lower body– likewise decreased without any considerable modification in physical function.Semaglutides Safety Profile and Future Research DirectionsSemaglutide was normally well endured with an adverse event profile comparable to that observed in people without HIV. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal and consisted of queasiness, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. Two participants experienced more significant adverse events possibly related to semaglutide however were able to continue in the study. All individuals finished the complete 24 weeks of treatment at the originally prescribed dose.These findings recommend that semaglutide is a safe and effective treatment for MASLD in individuals with HIV. The study might assist inform healthcare choices by individuals in consultation with their service providers, as part of an approach to much healthier aging with HIV over the life period. According to the detectives, extra research is underway to comprehend whether people with HIV experience any distinct immunologic or inflammatory pathway modifications while taking semaglutide therapy.