Posted on Friday, 31st October 2008 by admin
The goal of researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, led by Dr. Paul Angulo, was to determine the
effects of fatty liver disease in children up to 20 years after the initial
diagnosis. This is especially important as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease in preadolescents and adolescents.
To put the problem of NAFLD into perspective, Ariel Feldstein, MD, another
investigator involved with the study said, “In the past ten years, the rate of
obesity in our country has tripled in children and teenagers, and this most
likely explains why NAFLD is becoming so common. Some experts estimate that
about half of obese children may have fatty liver disease.”
The authors identified 66 children who were diagnosed with NAFLD and had
extensive follow up data available for review. After the initial diagnosis,
four children developed type 2 diabetes and four children had increased liver
fibrosis. During follow up two children developed end-stage liver disease and
required a liver transplantation. However NAFLD recurred in the transplanted
liver in the two cases, with one case progressing to cirrhosis and requiring
re-transplantation. The study demonstrated that NAFLD in children is
associated with a significantly shorter long-term survival as compared to the
expected survival of the general population. Children with NAFLD had an almost
14-fold higher risk of dying or requiring liver transplantation than the
general population of same age and sex.
“There is currently no medication proven to be effective for NAFLD,”
development of medications that could treat NAFLD and NASH is an area of
intense research,” said Dr. Feldstein, “and it remains unclear whether there
are any clinical or laboratory features that can be used to identify the
subgroup of children with NAFLD that will develop advanced liver disease later
in life.”
“The most important recommendations for children with fatty liver are to
lose weight if they are overweight or obese, increase their physical activity,
follow a balanced diet and avoid unnecessary medications,” concluded Dr.
Feldstein.
Abstract title:
The natural history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children: A
follow-up study up to 20 years.
AASLD is the leading medical organization for advancing the science and
practice of hepatology. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD’s vision is to
prevent and cure liver diseases. This year’s Liver Meeting, held in San
Francisco, California, October 31 – November 4, will bring together more than
7,000 researchers from 55 countries.
A pressroom will be available from November 1 at the annual meeting. For
copies of abstracts and press releases, or to arrange for pre-conference
research interviews contact Gregory Bologna at 703-299-9766. To pre-register,
call Ann Tracy at 703-299-9766.
Press releases and all abstracts are available online at www.aasld.org .
This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merging
e-mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts and
media outlets worldwide. For more information, visit
http://www.XpressPress.com
SOURCE American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Tags: adults, Health, health risks, liver, Liver Disease
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