Korean J Gastroenterol.  2011 Mar;57(3):158-165. 10.4166/kjg.2011.57.3.158.

Association among Histopathology, Clinical Manifestation, and Ultrasonographic Grades in Pediatric Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

• Jee SJ
• Kim YJ
• Song SY
• Paik SS

• KMID: 1128354
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2011.57.3.158

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Liver biopsy remains the best way to diagnose NASH and establish the presence of fibrosis, but has not been performed easily in children because of its invasiveness. We analyzed the ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings of pediatric NAFLD patients, and studied to find their association with clinical characteristics and laboratory findings.
METHODS
The study involved 18 obese children ranging from 7 to 15 years of age, who were diagnosed with NASH by liver biopsy. We performed the abdomen ultrasonography before the liver biopsy. We reviewed their pathology slides and classified them by NASH CRN (Clinical Research Network) scoring system. We also reviewed the abdomen ultrasonographic findings of the patients and classified them into grade of 1, 2, and 3. We reviewed the medical records of the patients and investigated their clinical characteristics and laboratory findings.
RESULTS
The ultrasonographic grades had significant association with NAFLD activity score, grade of steatosis amount, ballooning change, and portal inflammation. Serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in patients who showed high grade steatosis and high NAFLD activity score.
CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that serum triglycerides and ultrasonographic findings are highly correlated with pathologic findings in children with NAFLD.

Keyword

Children; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Ultrasonographic finding; Liver histopathologic finding

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Child
Disease Progression
Fatty Liver/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography
Female
Humans
Male
Obesity/complications
Retrospective Studies
*Severity of Illness Index
Triglycerides/blood

Reference

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