Update on Pediatric Fatty Liver Disease

AbstractPurpose of ReviewNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the USA, affecting over 7 million children. In this article, we provide an update on pediatric NAFLD by briefly reviewing the recent publications in diagnosis, screening, therapy, and follow-up.Recent FindingsNAFLD remains a diagnosis of exclusion and liver biopsy is the most accurate test to assess severity of the disease in children. There is a growing collection of studies testing noninvasive tests for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, several of which have become available in more recent years, such as fibrosis scores, imaging and serum biomarkers. The mainstay of NAFLD treatment remains weight loss through dietary modifications and exercise. There is substantial interest in pharmacological therapies for NAFLD given the frequent failure of lifestyle and behavior modification to resolve the disease. Certain medications of interest target mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD such as insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia.SummaryResearch within the field of NAFLD has advanced substantially, yet critical gaps remain including lack of accurate noninvasive tests for NAFLD, effective prevention, and treatment.

Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - October 17, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research