— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers reverses a widely-held medical
practice that discontinued the type 2 diabetes drug metformin in
diabetic patients who developed cirrhosis (severe liver scarring).
Metformin is a very effective oral medication that helps liver cells
absorb glucose. Historically, doctors discontinued this drug in
diabetic patients once they developed cirrhosis in the mistaken belief
that the medications might harm the vulnerable liver and cause lactic
acidosis (which occurs when cells don't get the oxygen they need, and
body tissue and blood has low pH).
The Mayo study, published in the June issue of Hepatology,
found that continuing metformin in patients who had severe liver
scarring actually benefited them and improved survival. This study is
important because cirrhotic patients have higher rates of type 2
diabetes than the general public.
In the study, 172 cirrhotic, diabetic patients
continued metformin while 78 discontinued the drug. Patients who
continued metformin on average lived 11.8 years more, compared to those
who discontinued the drug and lived only 5.6 more years. There was no
diagnosis of lactic acidosis in any of the patients who continued to
take metformin.
Continuation of metformin after cirrhosis
diagnosis reduced the risk of death by 57%. Metformin should therefore
be continued in diabetic patients with cirrhosis if there is no
specific contraindication, researchers concluded.
Source: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140618163926.htm and http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/
hep.27199
/abstract;
jsessionid=0AEFD5FFB19602BA310E7CA30B8FFB87
.f01t03
Source: HBV Journal Review: August 1, 2014, Vol 11, no 8 Labels: cirrhosis, diabetic patients, metformin
