Semaglutide for non-cirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more serious, progressive form of non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that involves the accumulation of fat and inflammation in the liver. The word ‘steato’ in NASH refers to fat while hepatitis refers to inflammation and damage to the liver. This inflammation can lead to scarring of liver tissue, which is called fibrosis. Over time, this scarring can worsen and lead to cirrhosis, which can lead to liver cancer. Some symptoms may include severe tiredness, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or eyes, spiderlike blood vessels on the skin or long-lasting itching. A person may not have symptoms even if they develop cirrhosis due to NASH. There are currently no approved medications to treat NAFLD even though the prevalence of NASH in the UK is projected to rise from 4.1% in 2016 to approximately 5.5% by 2030. Doctors typically recommend weight loss to reduce fat, inflammation, and fibrosis (scarring in the liver).