Efficacy of Intragastric Balloon Placement in Changing Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects about a quarter of the global adult population, often progressing to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Effective management remains challenging, necessitating alternative treatments such as intragastric balloon (IGB) therapy. This study aims to evaluate the impact of IGB placement on metabolic parameters and liver health in patients diagnosed with (MAFLD). Methods: This prospective cohort study included one hundred patients undergoing IGB placement at Benha Teaching Hospital from November 2023 to September 2024. Patients were assessed for metabolic markers and liver health through laboratory tests and imaging pre- and post-IGB placement. Results: Post-IGB placement, significant improvements were observed: waist circumference decreased to 107.5 ± 5.3 cm (p < 0.001); Body mass index (BMI ) reduced to 31.8 ± 2.6 kg/m² (p < 0.001); Systolic blood pressure (SBP) dropped to 118.4 ± 10.2 mmHg (p < 0.001); total cholesterol decreased to 180.2 ± 30.5 mg/dL (p < 0.001); fasting blood glucose fell to 98.2 ± 15.8 mg/dL (p < 0.001); Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) reduced to 26.2 ± 9.1 U/L (p < 0.001); Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased to 22.3 ± 8.2 U/L (p < 0.001); and Fibrosis 4 index for liver fibrosis (FIB-4) score improved to 1.5 ± 0.3 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: IGB therapy is an effective and safe treatment for MAFLD, resulting in improved metabolic and liver health parameters, indicating its potential to reverse disease progression. Further studies are warranted to explore its long-term effects across diverse populations.