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. 2019 Aug 23;10:89–97. doi: 10.2147/PHMT.S188989

Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: current perspectives on diagnosis and management

Anna Di Sessa 1, Grazia Cirillo 1, Stefano Guarino 1, Pierluigi Marzuillo 1,✉, Emanuele Miraglia del Giudice 1
PMCID: PMC6711552  PMID: 31692530

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most common cause of chronic liver disease in childhood. To date, the “multiple-hit” hypothesis is largely recognized as an explanation of NAFLD pathogenesis and progression. Obesity and features of the metabolic syndrome have been closely linked to NAFLD development. Due to the increased prevalence of obesity worldwide, NAFLD has reached epidemic proportions over time. Given its unfavorable cardiometabolic burden (such as cardiovascular and metabolic consequences), it represents a worrying phenomenon needing a more comprehensive and successful management. Laboratory tests and classical imaging techniques play a pivotal role in NAFLD diagnosis, but novel noninvasive alternative methods to diagnose and monitor NAFLD have been investigated. Currently, lifestyle modifications remain the mainstay treatment, although its efficacy is poor because of the lack of compliance. Pediatric research is focusing on multiple alternative treatments targeting the main pathogenic factors such as insulin-resistance, dyslipidemia, gut-liver axis and microbiota, oxidative stress, and proinflammatory pathways. Results from these studies are promising but larger validation is needed. Innovative therapeutic approaches might add an important piece in the complex knowledge of pediatric NAFLD. We aimed to summarize recent insights into NAFLD diagnosis and treatment in children, with a focus on possible future perspectives in pediatric research.

Keywords: fatty, liver, pediatric, diagnosis, management

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most common cause of chronic liver disease in childhood.1,2 It is defined by the histologic evidence of at least 5% of the hepatic steatosis in the absence of other causes of excessive liver fat accumulation, including various conditions ranging from simple hepatic steatosis through non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with or without fibrosis, to possibly cirrhosis and end stage liver disease.3

To date, the “multiple-hit” hypothesis (based on interrelations among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors) is largely recognized as an explanation of NAFLD pathogenesis and progression.4–8 Interestingly, recent data add novel findings in this complex puzzle. In fact, it has been observed a protective role of both normal maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and long duration of breastfeeding in NAFLD development, suggesting that they might act as NAFLD preventive options.9,10 Similarly, among modifiable risk factors for NAFLD, Mediterranean diet has been observed as both preventive and therapeutic promising approach for NAFLD.11 Obesity and features of the metabolic syndrome have been closely linked to NAFLD development.12 Due to the increased prevalence of obesity worldwide, NAFLD has reached epidemic proportions over time.13 In fact, recent data reported a mean prevalence of NAFLD ranging from 7.6% in general population up to 34.2% in obese children.14

Given its unfavorable cardiometabolic burden and impact on renal function, pediatric NAFLD represents a worrying phenomenon needing a more comprehensive and successful management.15–17 Growing evidence linked the presence of NAFLD in children to cardiovascular and metabolic consequences such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.13,18

This review aimed to summarize recent insights into NAFLD diagnosis and treatment in children, with a focus on possible future perspectives in pediatric research.

Diagnosis of NAFLD

The first step of NAFLD diagnosis is based on the detection of steatosis through either imaging or liver biopsy and the exclusion other causes of elevated transaminases and hepatic fatty infiltration (e.g., viral infections, autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease, metabolic liver diseases) by using history and laboratory screening.19,20 To detect this condition, the most common laboratory test is alanine aminotransferase (ALT), although imperfect because of its poor accuracy.16 In fact, a careful evaluation of ALT pediatric thresholds is needed, as major experts also indicated.18,21,22 Additional laboratory tests (AST, AST/ALT ratio, bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), triglycerides, glucose, insulin, Homeostatic model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) are available for NAFLD assessment.16

New biomarkers

Despite several biomarkers have been linked to the presence of NAFLD, there has also a growing interest regarding newly proposed noninvasive markers.1,23,24

To date, markers of hepatic apoptosis such as cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), soluble Fas, and soluble Fas ligand have shown a significant association in pediatric NAFLD patients.1,23

Recent findings showed the role of the chemerin, a novel adipokine, in predicting both intrahepatic lipid content in obese children and advanced liver steatosis in NAFLD pediatric patients.25,26

Given the pathogenic role of hepatokines in NAFLD, pediatric data demonstrated that both serum fetuin A and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-21) levels were significantly associated with NAFLD.23,27 A high diagnostic value of plasma cathepsin D (CatD) levels in distinguishing children with simple steatosis from those with hepatic inflammation was also reported.28 It has been found that reduced CatD levels showed a better correlation than ALT and CK-18 in NAFLD progression assessment.23,28

In addition, Tumor Necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) might represent a specific noninvasive biomarker predicting the degree of NAFLD progression.29

Pediatric research has been focused on further potential predictors not only of NAFLD (such as adropin, retinol-binding protein 4, and zonulin) but also of NASH (such as plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and IL-18).23,30–32 Of note, a recent study in obese children demonstrated a significant association between serum IL-18 levels and the degree of hepatic steatosis.33

Imaging

Primary noninvasive tools to detect and measure steatosis are represented by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging.13 Because of its availability, noninvasiveness, and safety, ultrasound imaging is commonly used in clinical practice for the initial evaluation of hepatic steatosis.1,19 Nevertheless, children are often unable to cooperate with awake MRI and sedation or general anesthesia might be required, resulting in an “invasive” technique with potential-related risks. Given that, several strategies to avoid or reduce pediatric sedation – such as sequences with short acquisition time, reducing respiratory motion techniques, and emerging radiological tools – have been developed.34,35

However, the diagnostic gold standard remains liver biopsy, that provides the best overall definition of the disease (degree, severity, and staging).13 Besides the cost and invasiveness of this procedure, its use is further limited in childhood by ethical issues.13,19,36 The ESPGHAN panel indicates the use of liver biopsy to confirm NAFLD diagnosis and in selected cases in NAFLD pediatric patients.37 In fact, children affected by NAFLD can undergo liver biopsy, before or after pharmacological or surgical treatment or in case of suspicion of advanced disease or to exclude other relevant diseases.37 In particular, alternative diagnosis than NAFLD includes a wide spectrum of genetic and metabolic disorders (e.g., inborn errors of metabolism), hepatitis, myopathies, gastrointestinal, nutritional and endocrine diseases, and iatrogenic causes.38

Novel noninvasive techniques for NAFLD assessment

In order to measure hepatic fat, newer magnetic resonance (MR)-based techniques are available. To date, evidence supports MRI, MR Spectroscopy, proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and, in particular, proton density fat fraction (PDFF) as the most accurate noninvasive imaging tools for NAFLD detection, even in childhood.16,39–41 Of note, PDFF provides fat mapping of the entire liver, by guaranteeing an accurate measurement of the degree of hepatic steatosis in all cases.16,42–44 Given the high cost and limited availability, these methods are at present preferred for research purposes in NAFLD.16

Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) represents another noninvasive tool useful for NAFLD assessment. It is based on a radiofrequency ultrasound signal incorporated in the transient elastography system (TE) of the FibroScan device.16 It has shown good accuracy in adults NAFLD patients and recent data confirmed these results also in pediatric population.16,45 Considering its noninvasiveness and limited cost, CAP might be a promising tool, but further studies are needed.

Further imaging techniques such as TE and MR elastography are currently used for fibrosis evaluation and differentiation in adults, but results in children, although promising, need to be validated before using in clinical practice.18,46

Several alternative noninvasive methods for diagnosis of liver fibrosis in NAFLD pediatric patients have been proposed.24 Despite various fibrosis scores available in adults (e.g., AST/ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, NAFLD fibrosis score, and fibrosis-4 index), valid alternatives to liver biopsy are still limited.1,23 A pediatric prediction score for steatosis (Pediatric NAFLD score) has been developed, but its accuracy resulted not satisfactory.47,48 Indirect evaluation of NASH in children is still lacking. To date, the “Pediatric predictive NASH model” has been only proposed, with promising validation studies but very limited.49

Recently, it has been proposed a “pediatric NAFLD fibrosis index” –based on age, waist circumference, and triglycerides – as a predictor of liver fibrosis in children.50 In addition, the “Enhanced Liver Fibrosis” test – an algorithm including hyaluronic acid, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, and procollagen III N-terminal peptide (P3NP)-represents a screening method for progressive fibrosis with good accuracy but with lack of larger validation studies.51,52 The “Pediatric NAFLD fibrosis score” (based on ALT, GGT, platelet counts, and alkaline phosphatase) has been also developed and seems useful in predicting advanced liver fibrosis, although larger validation is needed.53,54

Of interest, recent promising studies reported novel potential noninvasive approaches in this field by assuming an important role of gut-liver axis perturbations and metabolomics signatures in NAFLD pathogenesis.55–59 In particular, salivary test combined with selected anthropometric parameters might act as useful markers in early identification of obese patients with hepato-metabolic comorbidities.56

Therapeutic approaches in NAFLD

Given the close link between obesity and NAFLD and its cardiometabolic burden, an adequate management is strictly required (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Available options for pediatric NAFLD treatment.

Abbreviation: NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

To date, lifestyle modifications represent the mainstay therapy in childhood. No pharmacological treatments are licensed for NAFLD, but several studies are promising.

Lifestyle modifications

Evidence showed a synergistic effect of diet and physical activity in improving both hepatic and extrahepatic insulin sensitivity. Moreover, structured programs of behavior therapy for children with NAFLD showed improvement in insulin-resistance, hepatic fat content, liver enzymes, and in liver disease progression (e.g., grade and stage of hepatic inflammation, fibrosis).60

Due to the difficulty in achieving long-term significant and sustained weight loss through diet and exercise, more effective pharmacological interventions are needed.

Weight loss therapies

Orlistat is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor approved from FDA for obese subjects aged >12 years.60,61 It may be poorly tolerated because of its adverse effects of abdominal pain and steatorrhea. However, NICE recommended its use in children <12 years in selected cases such as in the presence of serious comorbidities.62

Studies reported a modest effect of this drug in weight loss, while results on reducing hepatic steatosis are contrasting.60,63 To date, its use as a key pharmacological agent in pediatric NAFLD treatment is very limited.60,62

Bariatric surgery represents an important therapeutic option in morbidly obese adults who failed lifestyle modifications, providing the best long-term resolution of the cardiovascular and metabolic consequences obesity-related.23,60 Recently, ESPGHAN suggested that morbidly obese adolescents with NAFLD might benefit from its use, but the efficacy of this procedure, although promising, needs to be further investigated.64 A recent pediatric study reported the positive effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy not only in reversing fibrosis but also in improving several cardiometabolic consequences obesity-related.65 Nevertheless, due to the paucity of available data and the potentially serious complications, bariatric surgery is not currently recommended as a specific treatment for pediatric NAFLD patients.18

Insulin sensitizers

On the basis of the close pathogenic relationship between NAFLD and insulin-resistance, insulin sensitizers treatment has been considered for NAFLD management.1,13

Evidence showed a positive effect of metformin in improving steatosis but not hepatic histology or serum ALT levels, although results are conflicting.13,60 The TONIC study, a large multicenter randomized double-blind pediatric trial, reported no significant variations in both serum ALT and hepatic histology in the treated group compared to placebo during a period of 96 weeks.66 Thiazolidinediones – such as pioglitazone and rosiglitazone – represent another class of insulin sensitizers increasing adipocyte storage capacity through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARγ) in white adipose tissue.36 Findings from adults demonstrated the positive effect of pioglitazone on improving steatosis and lobular inflammation in NASH patients, suggesting a potential role in influencing the natural history of NAFLD. Despite its promising effect, at present, this class of drugs has not been licensed for pediatric age because of its cardiovascular consequences and risk of bladder cancer.36,60

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, may represent a further promising pharmacological option in NAFLD treatment. In fact, recent studies in adults reported a significant improvement of NASH, but these results need to be largely validated. However, this drug is not approved in pediatrics because of its exclusive use by injection.60

Antioxidants and biliary acids

Given the role of the mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species damage in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, several studies have investigated the potential use of antioxidants such as vitamin E, cysteamine bitartrate). To date, results are conflicting and little benefit over lifestyle and dietary interventions is reported. The largest study in this area is the TONIC randomized controlled trial, that demonstrated no significant effect in sustained ALT reduction in NAFLD patients treated with vitamin E supplementation but in improving liver histology (mainly expressed as hepatocellular ballooning and NAFLD Activity Score (NAS)) in biopsy-proven NASH patients.67

Cysteamine bitartrate represents another promising target in NAFLD therapy. The Cysteamine Bitartrate Delayed-Release for the Treatment of NAFLD in Children (CyNCh) trial showed that 52 weeks of cysteamine bitartrate delayed-release treatment had no effects on histologic markers of NAFLD but a significant reduction in both serum ALT activity and lobular inflammation compared to placebo.68

Similarly, data regarding the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in pediatric NAFLD are conflicting. UDCA is a well-known bile acid exerting anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, cytoprotective, and immuno-modulatory functions. As in adults, pediatric studies demonstrated no clear evidence supporting the use of UDCA both as single or combined (with vitamin E and/or C, with or without lifestyle interventions) in NAFLD treatment.69,70

Gut microbiota and endotoxins

Growing evidence showed the role of gut microbiota in improving the natural history of NAFLD through the influence on hepatic fat deposition and the regulation of the gut-liver axis.13,36

In fact, small gut bacterial overgrowth in NAFLD patients has been linked to the severity of steatosis.1 Moreover, gut microbiota seems to affect several NAFLD risk factors such as insulin-resistance, fat storage, and energy harvesting. Given that, changes in gut microbial ecology using pre and probiotics and anti-lipopolysaccharides may represent a therapeutic option for NAFLD patients not compliant to lifestyle interventions.36,60,71

There are several randomized clinical trials investigating the potential role of probiotic supplementation on liver function. Recent data showed positive outcomes such as reduction in BMI and NAFLD severity and increased circulating levels of GLP-1 and its activated form (aGLP-1) in treated patients with VSL#3 (a mixture of eight probiotic strains).72 Further studies reported significant reduced transaminase levels and lipid parameters in NAFLD patients treated with probiotics.16,60 Particularly, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG also showed promising effects in reducing transaminase levels and reducing liver fibrosis in children with NAFLD compared to controls.73

Nobili et al, studied the distribution of intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in 61 obese, NAFLD, and NASH children and 54 healthy, age-matched controls. In particular, Lactobacillus mucosae resulted significantly higher in obese NAFLD and NASH children, while Bifidobacterium spp. were more abundant in control subjects, suggesting a protective role of these microorganisms against both obesity and NAFLD development.74 The effect of probiotics on NAFLD was also evaluated in a randomized triple-blind trial on 64 obese children with sonographic NAFLD receiving probiotic capsule (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC B3208, 3 × 10 colony-forming units [CFU]; Bifidobacterium lactis DSMZ 32269, 6 × 10 CFU; Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC SD6576, 2 × 10 CFU; Lactobacillus rhamnosus DSMZ 21690, 2 × 10 CFU) or placebo.75 After 12 weeks, a significant decrease in transaminase levels, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-C, and waist circumference was observed in the treatment group. A more pronounced percentage of normal liver sonography was also reported in the intervention group rather than in the placebo group.75 Taken together, these findings suggest a role of probiotics in improving pediatric NAFLD. More recently, few promising clinical trials reported an hepato-metabolic improvement in patients treated with probiotics, suggesting a potential anti-fibrotic activity of these compounds.76 Interestingly, new experimental studies in this field support the beneficial role of gut microbiota manipulation in pediatric NAFLD clinical management.76

Longer RCT is nevertheless needed to better define long-term profile of this NAFLD therapeutic option.

A novel focus in this challenging field is the gut endotoxin lipopolysaccharides found on the outer cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria.1 In fact, patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD showed increased plasma levels of both proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1 β, TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharides, which in turn correlated with the presence of NASH and the NAS.36 This might be due to the role of lipopolysaccharides in activating a proinflammatory pathway involving hepatic stellate cell cytokine production through lipopolysaccharide-induced signaling. So that, the gut endotoxin lipopolysaccharides might represent a promising target that should be further studied.23,36

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)

It has been well demonstrated the positive effect of omega-3 PUFAs such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) not only on both hepatic lipid metabolism and adipose tissue function but also as anti-inflammatory agents.13 Several studies have shown their effectiveness in both prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases.23,60 Recent pediatric findings demonstrated that NAFLD patients treated with long-chain PUFAs showed improvements in liver function and hepatic steatosis.36,60 In fact, it has been observed a reduction of liver steatosis after 6 months of DHA supplementation, with a sustained improvement of metabolic profile and a significant decrease of fat liver content over 24 months.77 Another RCT confirmed the beneficial effects of DHA supplementation in children with biopsy-proven NAFLD, demonstrating a significant reduction of hepatic fat fraction assessed by MRI.78

However, results from omega-3 supplementation in NAFLD patients are contrasting, with no effect on the degree of steatosis and liver function observed in treated subjects in some RCTs.70,79

To date, there are also promising RCTs investigating the effects of association of different micronutrients such as DHA, choline, vitamin E, and hydroxytyrosol in NAFLD pediatric patients.80,81

Novel investigational therapeutic options for NAFLD treatment

Findings from adult literature have reported promising effects on NAFLD severity by using common drugs such as statins, angiotensin receptor blockers, and GLP-1 agonists.36 However, there is no current evidence supporting their use at pediatric age.

A large amount of data also reported a positive effect on NASH from pentoxifylline (PTX) use in adult NAFLD patients.60 PTX represents a phosphodiesterase inhibitor blocking TNF-A, a proinflammatory cytokine with a pathogenic role in NASH.60 Given that, it might be a valid therapeutic option that should be investigated also in children with NAFLD.

Another promising class drug under evaluation for adult NAFLD treatment is represented by Farnesoid X nuclear receptor (FXR) agonists. Of note, administration of obeticholic acid, a semisynthetic bile acid, and a potent FXR agonist showed significant improvement in liver histology and a relatively favorable safety profile in patients affected by NASH.60,82 Pruritus was the only side effect reported. Nevertheless, there are no pediatric RCTs to date.

To best of our knowledge, there are four controlled Phase 2 pediatric trials evaluating the effects of different molecules such as losartan, anti-LPS (a monoclonal antibody), cysteamine bitartrate (an aminothiol salt), and metreleptin (a synthetic analog of the hormone leptin).16,83–85

More recently, studies highlighted the potential use of microRNAs – involved in the NAFLD pathogenesis through their role in both inflammation and fibrogenesis in hepatic cells – as therapeutic tools in the management of NAFLD and its progressive forms.86

Conclusion

Pediatric NAFLD has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease in childhood with potential serious cardiometabolic consequences even in youth. Laboratory tests and classical imaging techniques play a pivotal role in NAFLD diagnosis, but novel noninvasive alternative methods to diagnose and monitor NAFLD have been investigated.

To date, multiple treatments are available for pediatric NAFLD, but the global effectiveness is very limited. Currently, lifestyle modifications remain the mainstay treatment, although its efficacy is poor because of the lack of compliance. Pediatric research is focusing on multiple alternative treatments targeting the main pathogenic factors such as insulin-resistance, dyslipidemia, gut-liver axis and microbiota, oxidative stress, and proinflammatory pathways. Results from these studies are promising but larger validation is needed. Innovative therapeutic approaches might add an important piece in the complex knowledge of pediatric NAFLD.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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