Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. It represents a spectrum of disease from simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis that may develop into progressive hepatic fibrosis and even cirrhosis. NAFLD is the most rapidly increasing indication for liver transplantation in adults. In children, the incidence of NAFLD has also increased over the past decade. Although the majority of children with NAFLD are overweight or obese, there is an increasing subset of children with normal body mass index with so-called lean NAFLD. NAFLD in children is associated with several extrahepatic manifestations, including hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and obstructive sleep apnea. The pathogenesis of NAFLD in children involves a multifactorial interaction among genetics, in utero exposures, early childhood exposures, and ongoing nutritional exposures. Although there are some similarities between pediatric NAFLD and adult NAFLD, liver biopsies in children show histologic differences between the two. The current standard-of-care treatment of NAFLD in children is lifestyle change to decrease caloric intake and increase physical activity. There are no medications currently approved for the treatment of NAFLD in children. This article aims to summarize the current understanding of pediatric NAFLD and future directions for intervention and therapeutic aims.