This is a randomized, controlled trial to determine whether Losartan is effective at slowing down, halting or reversing liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liver fibrosis is the accumulation of tough, fibrous scar tissue in the liver which occurs in patients with NASH. NASH resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage, which may lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is permanently damaged and scarred and no longer able to function properly. Primary hypothesis: That losartan is superior to placebo in reversing, slowing down or halting fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, after 24 months of treatment. Secondary hypothesis: 1. That the safety profile of the angiotensin receptor blocker (losartan) in this patient population is acceptable 2. That losartan can prevent clinical deterioration in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 3. That serum, radiological and histological markers of fibrosis correlate in these patients over a 24 month period
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
45
50 milligrams to be taken orally, daily
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Royal Derby Hospital
Derby, United Kingdom
Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospital
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
London, United Kingdom
Imperial College (St Mary's Site)
London, United Kingdom
St George's Hospital
London, United Kingdom
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Queens Medical Centre
Nottingham, United Kingdom
The primary outcome will be change in Kleiner fibrosis score, [Kleiner DE et al Hepatology 2005], based on histological fibrosis stage (as judged by two independent blinded histopathologists from liver biopsies), from pre-treatment to end-of-study
Time frame: trial entry, end of study (2 years)
Change in radiological (fibroscan) and serological (ELF) markers of fibrosis
Time frame: trial entry, 48 weeks, 96 weeks
change in NAFLD activity score (NAS)
Time frame: trial entry, end of study
comparison of "responder rate" - placebo versus intervention
Time frame: trial entry, end of study
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