title: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children: recent practice guidelines, where do they take us?
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents in the United States. It is strongly associated with childhood obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Although some children with NAFLD may remain asymptomatic, progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and to advanced stages of fibrosis and cirrhosis is well recognized. Unfortunately, despite the increase in awareness of this disease, there are still no reliable non-invasive diagnostic tests and liver biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of NASH and staging of fibrosis. In addition, there are no approved pharmacological treatments currently. Lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of treatment. Team based multidisciplinary approach involving hepatologists, endocrinologists, exercise physiologist, dieticians, and cardiologists may lead to better outcomes. Recently, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) committees have made recommendations for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD in pediatric patients. This review focuses on current literature on epidemiology, natural history, pathogenesis along with summarizing the recent guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of pediatric NAFLD.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Kanika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: Suraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thangada
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, A-111, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alkhouri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008403:Mass Screening; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology