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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2014; 20(2): 569-577
Published online Jan 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i2.569
Published online Jan 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i2.569
Effects of pentoxifylline on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis
Juan Du, Yan-Yan Ma, Chao-Hui Yu, You-Ming Li, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Li YM proposed the study and revised the manuscript; Du J and Ma YY designed study, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Yu CH contributed to the discussion; all the authors have read and approved the final version to be published.
Supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, No. LQ13H030002; Medical and Health Science Fund of Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province, China, No. 2013KYB089
Correspondence to: You-Ming Li, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. zlym@zju.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87236603 Fax: +86-571-87236611
Received: August 8, 2013
Revised: September 20, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: January 14, 2014
Revised: September 20, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: January 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Recently, more researchers have been attempting to identify new treatments for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), however, no firm conclusions have been reached. Thus, it is necessary to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of pentoxifylline. Our analysis showed that pentoxifylline therapy significantly decreased body weight, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, glucose and tumor necrosis factor-α. Pentoxifylline also reduced the NAFLD activity score and improved lobular inflammation in NAFLD patients.