Comprehensive review on the emerging role of liraglutide in MASLD and MASH

A growing global health concern, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), along with its progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is primarily driven by the substantially increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity. The renaming of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to MASLD reflects an effort to better capture the pathophysiological underpinnings of this condition, emphasizing the central role of metabolic dysfunction rather than exclusionary criteria based on alcohol consumption. MASLD encompasses a wide clinical spectrum, from simple steatosis to progressive inflammatory fibrosis, culminating in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review explores the evolving definitions, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, classification of steatotic liver diseases, and current management strategies, with special focus on the therapeutic potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) such as liraglutide. Emerging therapies, future directions, and the need for multidisciplinary care are also discussed. Recent insights into systemic complications associated with MASLD, including cardiovascular and renal involvement, highlight the urgent need for early identification and comprehensive management.