Phase 2 Study of Obeticholic Acid for Lipodystrophy Patients

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with familial partial lipodystrophy of the Dunnigan variety with heterozygous disease-causing missense mutation in lamin A/C (LMNA) gene.
2. Hepatic steatosis (>5.6% hepatic triglyceride content) as demonstrated by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
3. Age 18-70 years.
4. Alcohol intake of less than 20 g per day in females and 30 g per day in males.
5. Participants and their partners with whom they are having sex, must use medically-acceptable birth control (contraceptives) during the study. Medically-acceptable methods of contraception include: (1) surgical sterilization, such as hysterectomy, tubal ligation or vasectomy. (2) approved hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, patch or ring; Depo-Provera, Implanon. (3) barrier methods, such as condom, cervical cap or diaphragm used with a spermicide. (4) an intrauterine device (IUD).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Laboratory or other histologic findings highly suggestive of liver disease due to causes other than non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, such as chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, biliary obstruction or genetic liver diseases such as Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
2. Treatment with drugs associated with steatohepatitis, e.g., corticosteroids, high dose estrogens, methotrexate, amiodarone, tamoxifen, valproic acid, sulfasalazine, or oxacillin for more than 2 weeks in the 6 months prior to the study.
3. Decompensated liver disease as evidenced by clinical features of hepatic failure (variceal bleeding, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy etc.) and laboratory investigations (prolonged prothrombin time with INR > 1.3, hypoalbuminemia with serum albumin less than 3.0 g/dL, direct bilirubin > 1.3 mg/dL, or presence of esophageal varices etc.)
4. Evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma: alpha-fetoprotein levels greater than 200 ng/ml and/or liver mass on imaging study suggestive of liver cancer.
5. Use of drugs which can potentially decrease hepatic steatosis during previous 3 months; ursodeoxycholic acid, thiazolidinediones, high-dose vitamin E, betaine, acetylcysteine and choline.
6. Significant systemic or major illnesses other than liver disease, such as congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory failure, renal failure (serum creatinine >2 mg/dL), acute pancreatitis, organ transplantation, serious psychiatric disease, and malignancy, that could interfere with the trial and adequate follow up.
7. Acute medical illnesses precluding participation in the studies.
8. Known HIV-infected patient.
9. Current substance abuse.
10. Pregnant or lactating woman.
11. Hematocrit of less than 30%.
12. History of weight loss during past 3 months.
13. Patients on bile acid binding resins, cholestyramine, colestipol or colesevelam.
14. Hypersensitivity or intolerance to OCA or any components of its formulation.
15. Failure to give informed consent 16 .Previous clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL or hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%.