Higher Responsiveness for Women, High Transaminase Levels, and Fat Percentage to Pemafibrate Treatment for NAFLD

Aim: Pemafibrate (PEM) is a novel selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator that is effective for hypertriglyceridemia accompanying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (HTG-NAFLD). This study aimed to identify the predictors of PEM efficacy for HTG-NAFLD in clinical practice. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 88 HTG-NAFLD patients treated with PEM for 6 months for the analysis of routine blood and body composition testing. A PEM response was defined as a decrease in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of >30% compared with pre-treatment level. The clinical features related to PEM responsiveness were statistically tested between responders and non-responders. Results: All 88 patients completed the 6 month drug regimen without any adverse effects. PEM treatment significantly decreased liver enzymes, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels, without any detectable impact on body weight or body composition. Comparisons of baseline clinical features revealed female and greater aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and fat mass % levels to be significantly associated with a PEM response. The optimal cut-off values to predict responders as determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis were AST 45 U/L, ALT 60 U/L, and fat mass 37%. Conclusions: Female HTG-NAFLD patients with higher transaminase and fat mass % levels may be preferentially indicated for PEM treatment. Additional large-scale prospective studies are warranted to verify our results

Prognostic Significance of C-Reactive Protein in Lenvatinib-Treated Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Study

Background: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an established biomarker for acute inflammation and has been identified as a prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the significance of the serum CRP level, specifically in HCC patients treated with lenvatinib, remains unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 125 HCC patients who received lenvatinib treatment at six centers. Clinical characteristics were assessed to identify clinical associations between serum CRP and HCC prognosis. Results: The median overall serum CRP level was 0.29 mg/dL. The cohort was divided into two groups: the low-CRP group with a serum CRP p p = 0.411), while time-to-treatment failure (TTF) was significantly longer in the low-CRP group (8.5 vs. 4.4 months, p = 0.007). The discontinuation rate due to poor performance status was significantly higher in the high-CRP group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A baseline serum CRP level exceeding 0.5 mg/dL was identified as an unfavorable prognostic factor in HCC patients receiving lenvatinib treatment