Is it normal for liver enzymes to go UP at first? — need advice

pat_auckland said:

Fatty liver on an incidental scan two years ago and nobody followed it up.

Liver ultrasound comparison for liver and MASH: my hepatologist ordered serial ultrasounds to track NAFLD regression.

Baseline: "Moderate hepatic steatosis, liver span 17.2cm, echogenic texture consistent with fat infiltration"
Month 8: "Mild steatosis, liver span 15.8cm, improved echogenicity"
Month 14: "Minimal to no steatosis, normal liver span 14.5cm, normal echotexture"

My liver literally shrank and de-fattened. The ultrasound tech said she's seen this pattern increasingly in GLP-1 patients and it's remarkable how consistently the fatty liver resolves.

Dr.PeteFamMed said:

Liver ultrasound comparison for liver and MASH: my hepatologist ordered serial ultrasounds to track NAFLD regression.

NASH/MAFLD therapeutic landscape and liver and MASH: GLP-1 agonists are emerging as potential first-line NASH therapy. The Phase 2b data for semaglutide showed 59% NASH resolution (vs 17% placebo) with 43% achieving fibrosis improvement[1].

Mechanism: GLP-1R activation reduces hepatic lipogenesis, increases fatty acid oxidation, reduces hepatic inflammation, and may directly reduce hepatic stellate cell activation (fibrosis pathway).

With resmetirom (thyroid hormone receptor agonist) recently approved for NASH, the field is evolving rapidly. Combination approaches (GLP-1 + resmetirom) are being explored.

pat_auckland said:

Fatty liver on an incidental scan two years ago and nobody followed it up.

Same experience, arrived at from the opposite direction.

Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.

ATTAIN trial (survodutide) context for liver and MASH: survodutide, a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist, showed -18.7% body weight at 46 weeks in the Phase 3 ATTAIN trial. NASH resolution was achieved in ~60% of patients[1].

This is relevant to liver and MASH because survodutide's glucagon agonism specifically targets hepatic lipid metabolism — making it potentially the best-in-class agent for NASH/MAFLD comorbid with obesity.