The defining of the reference range of liver stiffness and fat attenuation parameter for healthy Chinese children
Fansen Zeng1, Haiyan Wang2, Xufang Li1
1Hepatology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University.
Insights
This study establishes reference ranges for liver stiffness and fat accumulation in healthy Chinese children aged 0-18 years. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and fat attenuation parameter (FAP) levels were determined using transient elastography.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Establishing normative data for liver health in pediatric populations is crucial for early detection of liver disease.
- Non-invasive methods for assessing liver health are increasingly important in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the basal reference ranges for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and fat attenuation parameter (FAP) in healthy Chinese children.
- To investigate the influence of age and sex on these liver parameters in pediatric subjects.
Main Methods:
- Transient elastography (FibroTouch) was utilized to measure LSM and FAP in 521 healthy children aged 0-18 years.
- Participants were stratified into age groups: newborns/infants (0-2), preschool (3-5), elementary (6-11), and adolescents (12-18).
- Standard anthropometric measurements and liver function tests were also performed.
Main Results:
- The reference range for LSM in healthy children (0-18 years) was 1.5-5.9 kPa, and for FAP was 159.6-217.1 dB/m.
- Median LSM was significantly higher in males (3.5 kPa) compared to females (3.2 kPa).
- LSM demonstrated age-dependency in children aged 3-18 years, while FAP remained age-independent across all age groups.
Conclusions:
- This study provides essential reference ranges for LSM and FAP in healthy Southern Chinese children.
- LSM values in children are influenced by age and sex, highlighting the need for age- and sex-specific interpretation.
- FAP appears to be a stable indicator of liver fat content across childhood, independent of age.
Aims:
We aimed to establish the basal reference levels of liver stiffness and accumulated fat in healthy Chinese children.
Methods:
To obtain the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and the fat attenuation parameter (FAP) levels, the transient elastography (FibroTouch) was used in pediatric patients aged 0 to 18 years. The patients were divided into groups as follows: newborns/infants (0-2 years), preschool children (3-5 years), elementary school children (6-11 years), and adolescents/teenagers (12-18 years). The weight, height and fasting liver function tests were performed. FibroTouch and abdominal ultrasonography were performed.
Results:
The livers of 521 out of 1362 children (329 male; median age, 4.6 years; age range 0.2-17.6 years) were examined with the FibroTouch. The LSM reference range was 1.5-5.9 kPa, and the FAP reference range was 159.6-217.1 dB/m in healthy children from 0 to 18 years of age. The median LSM value was higher in males than that in females (3.5 vs. 3.2 kPa, respectively; P = 0.01).
Conclusion:
For healthy children from 0 to 18 years in southern China, the LSM reference range was 1.5-5.9 kPa, and the FAP reference range was 159.6-217.1 dB/m. The LSM values were age-dependent in children from 3 to 18 years old, and the FAP values were age-independent in children from 0 to18 years old.
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