Terminated due to low enrollment.

The current pilot study assesses the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify hepatic steatosis. It will provide preliminary data regarding the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (Lovaza) for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females at least 18 years of age.

• Evidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) on a liver biopsy performed within six months of entry to this study.

• Laboratory parameters indicative of decompensated liver disease including:

  • bilirubin less than 2 milligrams/decilitre (mg/dl).
  • stable albumin within normal limits.
  • prothrombin time less than 3 seconds prolonged.

• Serum creatinine less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.

• Diabetic patients must be stable on oral medication for diabetes or have had less than a 10 percent change in their insulin dose over the past two months.

• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) or Free Thyroxine Index (FTI) within the normal range.

• Hepatitis C antibody negative.

• Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) seronegative.

• Antinuclear antibody (ANA) less than 1:320.

• Patient provides written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Alcohol use exceeding 10 to 29 grams per day during the past six months.
• Evidence of a cause of liver disease other than nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) on liver biopsy including: viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or recent hepatoxic drug exposure.
• Patients with cirrhosis.
• Use of medications commonly associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) including: glucocorticoids, estrogens, tamoxifen, methotrexate, nifedipine, diltiazem, chloroquine, isoniazid, or amiodarone within the past six months.
• Use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, fibrates (fenofibrate or gemfibrozil) or warfarin within one month of entering the study.
• Uncontrolled diabetes, defined as a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level greater than 8%.
• Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.
• History of jejunal-ileal bypass or extensive small bowel resection.
• Substance abuse including, but not limited to, alcohol or intravenous and inhaled drugs within the past six months.
• Use of chemotherapy within six months of enrollment.
• Patients taking metformin.
• Thyroid abnormality in which normal thyroid function cannot be maintained by medication.
• Pregnancy, females who are breastfeeding.
• Solid organ transplant recipient.
• History of a medical condition, which could interfere with participation in and completion of the protocol.
• Use of oral supplements of Vitamin E within one month of enrollment.

Adverse events were captured using a systematic assessment from baseline (week 0) through week 24 for both the treatment and placebo groups.

The study was terminated on October 12, 2010 due to low enrollment. Consequently, no analyses were completed.