Risk Factors for Hepatic Steatosis in Children

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become the most common cause of liver disease in children worldwide. Purpose: to identify risk factors (RF) for hepatic steatosis in children. Methods. Thirty two children with gastrointestinal disorders were examined by us. The presence and severity of hepatic steatosis was determined using FibroScan® 502 touch with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). According to the results of CAP the children were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (basic) — 13 children with steatosis (40.6 %), group 2 (control) — 19 children without steatosis (59.4 %). To determine the risk factors we analyzed a history of life and disease, objective clinical and laboratory examination of patients. Results. Analysis of the age distribution showed that children older than 10 years old dominated in the basic group (RR 3.3; OR 4.0; p = 0.1). Obesity was found in 12 (92.3 %) children in the group with steatosis and in 9 (47 %) children without steatosis. Increased waist circumference values above 95 percentile according to age and sex of a child was observed in 12 (92.3 %) children in the basic group and in 8 (42.1 %) children in the control group (RR 7.2; OR 16.5; p < 0.05). It was found that the presence of pubertal hypothalamic syndrome is associated with risk of hepatic steatosis in children (RR 30.6; OR 4.8; p < 0.05). Discussion. Abdominal type of obesity in combination with diseases of the endocrine system, namely, hypothalamic syndrome should be considered as the leading risk factors for hepatic steatosis in children.

Keywords

• hepatic steatosis
• risk factors
• children.