How Much Testing Is Needed In Children with Suspected Fatty Liver?

Posted on by

F Al-Harthy et al. JPGN Reports 2022; Volume 3 – Issue 2 – p e181. doi: 10.1097/PG9.0000000000000181. Open Access: Evaluation of Hepatitis in Pediatric Patients With Presumed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

In this single-center retrospective study (2017–2020), the authors reviewed the extent of testing and yield in children with suspected NAFLD. Criteria:

  • BMI >85th percentile
  • Persistently (>3 months) elevated ALT more than twice the ULN for age
  • Radiographic (ultrasound, computed tomography, and MRI) features of hepatic steatosis.

Key findings:

  • Eleven (11.6%) patients were ultimately diagnosed with a condition resulting from their abnormal bloodwork: infectious hepatitis (3, 9.8%), thyroid disease (2, 3.4%), celiac disease (4, 7.7%), AIH (1, 1.7%; diagnosis based on liver biopsy), and A1AT deficiency (1, 2.0%). It is likely that the yield would have been higher if all patients had more extensive testing
  • Only 9.5% of patients had comprehensive, additional testing performed per the 2017 North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines: infectious hepatitis serologies (Hepatitis A virus IgM, Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti–Hepatitis C virus), thyroid studies (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]), ceruloplasmin, A1AT, liver autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody; anti-smooth muscle antibody; liver kidney microsome type 1 antibody), tissue transglutaminase IgA (TTG-IgA), total IgA, total IgG, and LAL blood spot
  • The costs of performing the recommended testing was estimated as $397.30 Canadian dollars

My take: In those with persistently elevated liver enzymes, additional blood tests are important to evaluate for chronic liver diseases, even in those suspected of NAFLD.

Related blog posts on fatty liver disease:

Shem Creek, SC