Lifestyle Versus Ezetimibe Plus Lifestyle in Patients With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

A Randomised Controlled Trial of Lifestyle Versus Ezetimibe Plus Lifestyle in Patients With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

• NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) has become the most common cause of liver disease in Western countries (hepatic manifestation of insulin resistance);
• NAFLD represents a cardiovascular risk factor;
• Lifestyle modification(weight loss)is the effective medical treatment recommended for NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis);
• Ezetimibe could represent a novel safe treatment for NAFLD (Patel 2006. Here the investigators propose a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial to evaluate the addictive effect of ezetimibe on liver histology, biochemical and sonographic parameters in a small (n.40) number of NASH patients randomized for 12 months in two arms: lifestyle vs lifestyle+ezetimibe.

to evaluate the addictive effect of ezetimibe on liver histology, biochemical and sonographic parameters in a small (n.40) number of NASH patients randomized for 12 months in two arms: lifestyle vs lifestyle+ezetimibe.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1.Patients older 18 years
• 2.Histological diagnosis of possible or definite NASH, according to Kleiner scorw, within 6 months before randomization -

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1)Average alcohol consumption > 20 g per day in women and > 30 g per day in men
• 2)other causes of chronic liver disease 3) History of or planned gastrointestinal bypass or any additional bariatric surgery/intervention 4)Hepatic cirrhosis with Child-Pugh score of B or C, and/or concomitant HCC 5)Recent(within 6 months) or concomitant use of agents known to cause hepatic steatosis 7)Recent(within 6 months)change in dose/regimen or first treatment with vitamin E, C, betaine, s-adenosylmethionine, ursodeoxycholate, sylimarin, fibrate, statin, pentoxyfilline, angiotensin II inhibitors, orlistat, sibutramine 8)Ongoing or recent therapy (within 6 months) with vitamin D or with medications known to affect vitamin D3 metabolism 9)Any additional condition that might interfere with optimal partecipation in the study, according to Investigators opinion; 10)Be pregnant or breastfeeding.