Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Mouse Model of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease with Fibrosis
Published on: July 18, 2025
Metabolic-Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Children - A Review For Primary Care Pediatrics
Amna Afzal Saeed1,2, Tonya Adamiak3,2
1Pediatric Residency Program, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the new terminology given to the previous diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is the most common cause of liver disease in the pediatric population, with an increase in prevalence primarily due to the rise in the rate of obesity in children and adolescents. With the change in definition of NAFLD to MASLD, there was also a change in the diagnostic criteria, which no longer requires an elevation in liver enzymes. The severity of MASLD ranges from steatosis to metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatohepatitis (MASH), with the potential of progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatic failure. The mainstay of management is lifestyle modifications, including weight loss, dietary changes and increased physical activity, with medications having no proven benefit. This diagnosis remains a challenge for primary pediatricians, specialists and health-care systems, with further studies and recommendations needed to delineate screening and management of children with MASLD.
Related Concept Videos
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not related to...
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Lysosomal Hydrolases
