Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide.
It is a wide range of diseases from simple cirrhosis to steatohepatitis, which can progress to progressive
liver fibrosis and even cirrhosis. NAFLD is the fastest growing liver transplant for adults. The incidence of
NAFLD in children has also increased over the last decade. Although most children with NAFLD are obese
or obese, there is a growing subgroup of children with a normal body mass index called low NAFLD.
NAFLD in children has been associated with a number of extrahepatic manifestations, including
hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and obstructive sleep apnea.The pathogenesis of NAFLD in children
includes multifactorial interactions between genetics, uterine exposure, early childhood exposure, and chronic
nutritional exposure. Although there are some similarities between NAFLD in children and NAFLD in adults,
liver biopsies in children show histological differences between the two.The current treatment for NAFLD in
children is a lifestyle change to reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity. There are currently no
approved drugs for the treatment of NAFLD in children. This article summarizes the current