title: Serum fetuin A concentration is elevated in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the serum fetuin A concentration as a potential marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in obese children with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective analysis of 45 obese children initially diagnosed with liver pathology (elevated serum ALT activity and/or ultrasonographic liver brightness and/or hepatomegaly) was conducted. The diagnosis of NAFLD was established in the children with elevated serum ALT activity and liver steatosis on ultrasound examination. Viral hepatitis, autoimmune, metabolic liver diseases (Wilson disease, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis) and drug and toxin-induced liver injury were excluded in all children. The degree of liver steatosis was graded according to Saverymuttu scale and the total liver lipids concentration was assessed using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum fetuin A concentration was significantly higher in examined children compared to the control group (n=30) (p=0.00002). Higher serum fetuin A concentration was also observed in children with NAFLD (n=19) in comparison to the controls (p=0.000026). Additionally, higher BMI values, waist circumferences, ALT and GGT activity, intensity of liver steatosis on ultrasound and total concentration of lipids in the liver in (1)H MRS were found in children with NAFLD compared to the rest of the examined obese patients (n=26). There was not found any correlation of the investigated glycoprotein with any other assessed parameters both in children with NAFLD and obese children without NAFLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher serum fetuin A concentration found in children with NAFLD compared to the control group support the hypothesis that atherosclerotic processes may develop faster in hepatopatic obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: lebensztejn@hoga.pl.
authors.forename: Dariusz M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lebensztejn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Disorders, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Białokoz-Kalinowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kłusek-Oksiuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Eugeniusz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tarasów
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Children Hospital, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojtkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C556354:AHSG protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Children; Fetuin A; NAFLD