Researchers identify possible predictors of fatty liver in children
Contact: Barbra Watson, Children's Hospital, Boston, 617-355-2520
Embargo: Friday, May 12, 4:15 pm
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have helped identify possible predictors of increased alanine aminotransferase levels, a liver enzyme whose measurements have a good sensitivity for detecting fatty liver in children. These results will help in the design of larger prospective studies and in the development of clinical trials for obesity associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a condition characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the liver associated with the accumulation of fat in the liver. This study is the first to examine the prevalence of and risk factors for abnormal ALT in a pediatric obesity program in the United States.
The findings will be presented at this year's joint meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies and the American Academy of Pediatrics, May 12- May 16, 2000, in Boston, Mass., by Carine Lenders, MD, MS, co-director of the Obesity Program at Children's Hospital Boston.
ALT levels observed in obesity clinics and in the general population have been used to evaluate the possible extent of liver disease associated with obesity. However, the risk factors for this complication of obesity are not well understood, especially among children. The final diagnosis of NASH can only be made on histologic evaluation of a liver biopsy.
Co-authors include Kayoung Lee, MD, MPH, research associate in Gastroenterology/Nutrition, Bonu Kapoor, research assistant in Gastroenterology/Nutrition, and Maureen Jonas, MD, associate in Medicine (Gastroenterology/Nutrition) at Children's Hospital Boston.
Children's Hospital Boston, is the nation's premier pediatric medical center. Founded in 1869 as a 20-bed hospital for children, today it is a 300-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children's Hospital is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, home to the world's leading pediatric research enterprise, and the largest provider of health care to the children of Boston.
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