Advances in the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Pediatric Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is a major contributor to pediatric liver disease. This review evaluated the current literature on prevalence, screening, diagnosis, and management of NAFL in children and explored recent advances in the field of pediatric NAFL.

Methods: A PubMed search was performed for manuscripts describing disease burden, diagnosis, and management strategies in pediatric NAFL published within the past 15 years. Systematic reviews, clinical practice guidelines, randomized controlled trials, and cohort and case-control studies were reviewed for the purpose of this article.

Findings: The prevalence of NAFL in children is increasing. It is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in children. Screening and diagnosis of NAFL in children are a challenge. Lifestyle changes and exercise are the cornerstones of the management of NAFL.

Implications: Further research is needed to develop better screening and diagnostic tools for pediatric NAFL, including noninvasive diagnostics. NAFL therapeutics is another area of much-needed, ongoing research.

Keywords: NAFL; diagnosis; fatty liver disease; pediatric; screening; therapeutics.