The findings of Zhang et al. indicate that metformin should not be discontinued in patients with diabetes who are diagnosed with cirrhosis unless there are specific contraindications. The authors analysed data retrospectively obtained from the medical records of 250 patients with diabetes who were taking metformin at the time cirrhosis was diagnosed—172 patients continued and 78 patients discontinued metformin. Continuation of metformin was found to reduce the risk of death by 57%.
References
Zhang, X. et al. Continuation of metformin use after a diagnosis of cirrhosis significantly improved survival of patients with diabetes. Hepatology 10.1002/hep.27199
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Risk of death reduced by continuing metformin after cirrhosis is diagnosed in patients with diabetes. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 330 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.82
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.82
