[Liver damage and obesity in pediatric age]

Pediatr Med Chir. 1996 Jan-Feb;18(1):57-9.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

In adult obese patients both an increase of aminotranspherase values and hepatic steatosis have been frequently showed. Conversely in childhood the existence of a liver's damage is often not investigated. To assess the prevalence of hepatic alterations in obese children, we studied 135 subjects, all affected by simple obesity, showing in a 20% of them the presence of ultrasonographic evidence of hepatic steatosis and/or hyperaminotransferasemia. Our study demonstrates the existence of silent hepatic alterations also in obese children and suggests to improve the treatment of obesity in childhood to prevent the progression of liver's damage.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Fatty Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Fatty Liver / enzymology
  • Fatty Liver / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Diseases / enzymology
  • Liver Diseases / etiology*
  • Male
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / diagnostic imaging
  • Obesity / enzymology
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Obesity, Morbid / complications*
  • Obesity, Morbid / diagnostic imaging
  • Obesity, Morbid / enzymology
  • Obesity, Morbid / therapy
  • Transaminases / analysis*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Transaminases