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Review: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in childhood

The Liver Unit, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK, ulrich.baumann{at}bch.nhs.uk

Rachel Brown

Department of Histopathology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an often undiagnosed entity of chronic liver disease with an uncertain prognosis. Recently NAFLD has probably become the most frequent cause of chronic liver disease in children. The term NAFLD covers a spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from benign static disease to more aggressive forms that can progress to cirrhosis within childhood. The term non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is nowadays reserved to describe these progressive forms of NAFLD. Insulin resistance is a significant aetiological factor and hence a majority of patients with diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome have the disease. Histological confirmation of NAFLD requires 5% steatosis to support the diagnosis and distinguishes an adult (NASH type 1) and a paediatric form (NASH type 2). Current treatment options focus on lifestyle changes to improve underlying obesity and glucose intolerance. This article provides an overview of currently existing data regarding diagnosis and management of children with suspected NAFLD.

Key Words: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease • insulin resistance • obesity • children and adolescents • liver biopsy.

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The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, Vol. 6, No. 6, 264-268 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/14746514060060060301


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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Baumann, U. Articles by Brown, R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?