title: Fatty liver in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a referral center of pediatrics in the northwest of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study all subjects aged between six months to 15 years that were referred to the sonography unit, were investigated for fatty liver from March 2005 to August 2006. Patients with fatty liver change underwent detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1500 children who were investigated, 34 subjects with sonographic evidence of fatty liver were enrolled in this study (2.3%). The mean age was 6.53 +/- 3.07 years. Elevated aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase was detected in 38.2% and 47.1% of patients, respectively. The mean level of cholesterol was 461 +/- 182.23 mg/dl and 94.1% of patients had hypercholesterolemia. Total cholesterol level and serum aminotransferase levels had a significant positive correlation with severity of fatty liver (p < 0.05). Mean body mass index was significantly higher in patients with severe fatty liver (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epidemiology of pediatric NAFLD should inform future attempts to develop evaluated screening protocols. Moreover, these data should guide efforts to delineate the pathophysiology of fatty liver in children.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Gastrointestinal Research Center;
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafeey
authors.forename: Fakhrossadat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mogaddasi
authors.forename: Ghergherehchi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robabeh
authors.forename: Shamsi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasani