Clinical features of pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A need for increased awareness and a consensus for screening

摘要

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver not associated with infection, medication, or an autoimmune process. The majority of individuals with NAFLD are asymptomatic and are found to have elevated hepatic transaminases on blood work that has been drawn for screening purposes or as part of an entirely different evaluation. NAFLD is a spectrum of disease ranging from relatively benign nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to an inflammatory process affecting the hepatocytes called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that can ultimately lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.