Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children: a single center experience.
OBJECTIVE
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common disorder seen in pediatric hepatology practice. However, little is known about the clinical, biochemical, and histologic features of the disorder. In addition, there have been no reports of the natural history of NAFLD in the pediatric age group.


METHODS
Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of children diagnosed with NAFLD in our institution between January 2000 and March 2007.


RESULTS
One hundred six children (82 male and 24 female) were diagnosed with NAFLD. Mean age at diagnosis was 13.4 years (range, 4-18 years). Liver biopsy was done in all patients. Fibrosis was noticed in 6 of 15 patients with normal liver enzymes. Eighteen children had a follow-up liver biopsy during an average period of 28 months. In 8 patients there was no change in fibrosis. Seven patients had progression of fibrosis, whereas 3 patients had regression or disappearance of fibrosis after losing weight.


CONCLUSIONS
The entire spectrum of histologic features of NAFLD can be seen in children with normal liver enzymes. Rapid progression might be seen in a large proportion of patients and can happen during a short period of time. Larger studies with long duration follow-up are needed to better understand the pathogenesis and the natural history of the disease in the pediatric age group.
A-Kader
Hassan H
HH
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724-5073, USA. Hassan@peds.Arizona.edu
Henderson
Jeff
J
Vanhoesen
Kathy
K
Ghishan
Fayez
F
Bhattacharyya
Achyut
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index