Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Children—From Atomistic to Holistic

Biomedicines

卷:9

Lorena Elena Meliț¹  Cristina Oana Mărginean¹  Maria Oana Săsăran² 

[1] Department of Pediatrics I, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No 38, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania;

[2] Department of Pediatrics III, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No 38, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania;

关键词: children;    obesity;    MAFLD;   

DOI  :  10.3390/biomedicines9121866

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has become the most common chronic liver disease in children due to the alarmingly increasing incidence of pediatric obesity. It is well-documented that MAFLD prevalence is directly related to an incremental increase in BMI. The multiple hits theory was designed for providing insights regarding the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis and fibrosis in MAFLD. Recent evidence suggested that the microbiome is a crucial contributor in the pathogenesis of MAFLD. Aside from obesity, the most common risk factors for pediatric MAFLD include male gender, low-birth weight, family history of obesity, MAFLD, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and polycystic ovarium syndrome. Usually, pediatric patients with MAFLD have nonspecific symptoms consisting of fatigue, malaise, or diffuse abdominal pain. A wide spectrum of biomarkers was proposed for the diagnosis of MAFLD and NASH, as well as for quantifying the degree of fibrosis, but liver biopsy remains the key diagnostic and staging tool. Nevertheless, elastography-based methods present promising results in this age group as potential non-invasive replacers for liver biopsy. Despite the lack of current guidelines regarding MAFLD treatment in children, lifestyle intervention was proven to be crucial in the management of these patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown