Research Article Details

Article ID: A22306
PMID: 24677740
Source: Pediatr Obes
Title: Prevalence and outcome of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents and young adults undergoing weight loss surgery.
Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in 27 adolescents referred for weight loss surgery (WLS). RESULTS: On biopsy, 18 patients (66.7%) had NAFLD, and of those, 10 (37.0%) had NASH and 11 (40.7%) had fibrosis. Insulin, HbA1C and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher in patients with NASH than those without NASH. Following WLS, 40% of patients with NASH had persistently elevated aminotransferase levels despite weight loss. CONCLUSION: We found that NASH is underdiagnosed in adolescents referred for WLS, and that hyperinsulinaemia, HOMA-IR and HbA1c can aid in identifying high-risk patients.
DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2014.219.x