摘要
Metformin, a biguanide derivative, is the most commonly prescribed medication in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. More recently, the use of metformin has shown potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent for a broad spectrum of conditions, including liver disease and hepatic malignancies. In this systematic review,we critically analyze the literature behind the potential use of metformin across the spectrum of liver disease and malignancies. The Pub Med and Ovid MEDLINE databases were searched from 2000 to March 2015, using a combination of relevant text words and MeS H terms: metformin and mammalian target of rapamycin, hepatitis B virus(HBV), hepatitis B virus(HCV), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD), hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) or cholangiocarcinoma. The search results were evaluated for pertinence to the issue of metformin in liver disease as well as for quality of study design. Metformin has a number of biochemical effects that would suggest a benefit in treating chronic liver diseases, particularly in the context of insulin resistance and inflammation. However, the literature thus far does not support any independent therapeutic role in NAFLD or HCV. Nonetheless, there is Level Ⅲ evidence for a chemopreventive role in patients with diabetes and chronic liver disease, with decreased incidence of HCC and cholangiocarcinoma. The use of metformin seems to be safe in patients with cirrhosis, and provides a survival benefit. Once hepatic malignancies are already established, metformin does not offer any therapeutic potential. In conclusion, there is insufficient evidence to recommend use of metformin in the adjunctive treatment of chronic liver diseases, including NAFLD and HCV. However, there is good evidence for a chemopreventive role against HCC among patients with diabetes and chronic liver disease, and metformin should be continued in patients even with cirrhosis to provide this benefit.
Metformin, a biguanide derivative, is the most commonlyprescribed medication in the treatment of type 2 diabetesmellitus. More recently, the use of metformin has shownpotential as a preventive and therapeutic agent for abroad spectrum of conditions, including liver diseaseand hepatic malignancies. In this systematic review,we critically analyze the literature behind the potentialuse of metformin across the spectrum of liver diseaseand malignancies. The PubMed and Ovid MEDLINEdatabases were searched from 2000 to March 2015,using a combination of relevant text words and MeSHterms： metformin and mammalian target of rapamycin,hepatitis B virus （HBV）, hepatitis B virus （HCV）, nonalcoholicfatty liver disease （NAFLD）, hepatocellularcarcinoma （HCC） or cholangiocarcinoma. The searchresults were evaluated for pertinence to the issue ofmetformin in liver disease as well as for quality of studydesign. Metformin has a number of biochemical effectsthat would suggest a benefit in treating chronic liverdiseases, particularly in the context of insulin resistanceand inflammation. However, the literature thus far doesnot support any independent therapeutic role in NAFLDor HCV. Nonetheless, there is Level Ⅲ evidence fora chemopreventive role in patients with diabetes andchronic liver disease, with decreased incidence of HCCand cholangiocarcinoma. The use of metformin seemsto be safe in patients with cirrhosis, and provides asurvival benefit. Once hepatic malignancies are alreadyestablished, metformin does not offer any therapeuticpotential. In conclusion, there is insufficient evidence torecommend use of metformin in the adjunctive treatmentof chronic liver diseases, including NAFLD and HCV.However, there is good evidence for a chemopreventiverole against HCC among patients with diabetes andchronic liver disease, and metformin should be continuedin patients even with cirrhosis to provide this benefit.
