Anna Maria Louka

Dr. Anna Maria Louka

3rd University Cardiology Clinic, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Attikí, Greece

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
14 May 2021 in The Journal of Climate Change and Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Christos TsagkarisChristos Tsagkaris
Christos Tsagkaris
Dimitrios V. MoysidisDimitrios V. Moysidis
Dimitrios V. Moysidis
APAndreas S Papazoglou
Andreas S Papazoglou
ALAnna Maria Louka
Anna Maria Louka
KKKonstantinos Kalaitzidis
Konstantinos Kalaitzidis
MEMohammad Yasir Essar
Mohammad Yasir Essar
Wastewater analysis has contributed significantly to the mitigation of COVID-19 worldwide An innovative approach in Thessaloniki, Greece has made the analysis more accurate and the subsequent prediction of the pandemic's course more trustworthy. The use of wastewater analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to raise awareness and educate the public about climate change and its implications on health

14 October 2026 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EVANGELOS OIKONOMOUEVANGELOS OIKONOMOU
EVANGELOS OIKONOMOU
NMNikolaos P. Machairas
Nikolaos P. Machairas
PTPanagiotis Theofilis
Panagiotis Theofilis
ALAnna Maria Louka
Anna Maria Louka
MXMaria Xenou
Maria Xenou
GSGerasimos Siasos
Gerasimos Siasos
Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the hepatic manifestation of cardiometabolic dysfunction, is closely linked to atherosclerosis, heart failure, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This review summarizes current evidence on the biological basis of the MASLD–heart axis, with particular emphasis on vascular injury and adverse cardiac remodeling. Methods: A narrative review of contemporary literature was conducted, including experimental studies, observational cohorts, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, and current guideline recommendations addressing the cardiohepatic axis. Results: The interaction between the liver and the heart involves interconnected mechanisms, including insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and neurohormonal activation. Experimental and translational evidence supports biologically plausible links between MASLD-related metabolic and inflammatory pathways and vascular or myocardial injury, while clinical studies consistently associate MASLD with arterial stiffness, microvascular dysfunction, atherosclerotic disease, adverse cardiac remodeling, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiovascular events. Several of these associations persist after adjustment for conventional cardiometabolic risk factors, although residual confounding and shared risk determinants limit causal inference. Non-invasive tools, including the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and transient elastography, may help identify patients at higher risk of advanced fibrosis and cardiometabolic complications. Lifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone of management, while glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and fibroblast growth factor-21 analogs may provide combined hepatic and cardiovascular benefits. Conclusions: The cardiohepatic axis is an important component of cardiometabolic disease, linking hepatic dysfunction with vascular and myocardial injury through shared biological pathways. Incorporating hepatic assessment into cardiovascular risk evaluation may support earlier identification of high-risk patients.