title: Comparison of the Phenotype and Approach to Pediatric vs Adult Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the main chronic noncommunicable diseases in Westernized societies; its worldwide prevalence has doubled during the last 20 years. NAFLD has serious health implications not only for adults, but also for children. However, pediatric NAFLD is not only an important global problem in itself, but it is likely to be associated with increases in comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. There are several differences between NAFLD in children and adults, and it is not clear whether the disease observed in children is the initial phase of a process that progresses with age. The increasing prevalence of pediatric NAFLD has serious implications for the future adult population requiring appropriate action. Studies of NAFLD progression, pathogenesis, and management should evaluate disease phenotypes in children and follow these over the patient's lifetime. We review the similarities and differences of NAFLD between children and adults.
authors.affiliation: Hepato-Metabolic Disease Unit and Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.affiliation: Hepato-Metabolic Disease Unit and Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy; Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alisi
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California; Department of Gastroenterology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Kimberly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California; Department of Gastroenterology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California; Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California. Electronic address: jschwimmer@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Schwimmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Adults; Children; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis