Fatty liver found in children

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego reported that pediatric fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis (fatty inflammation of the liver) in obese children have been increasing and this also includes cases of cirrhosis and liver transplantation.

According to the current issue of the Journal Pediatrics, fatty liver is seen in about 10% of children and adolescents, making it the most common liver abnormality in this age group. Fatty liver s defined as fatty deposits in at least 5 percent of the liver cells.

Liver enzyme predicts overall health ?

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommend that both doctors and the public should pay more attention to the levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in blood as there is growing evidence that ALT is a marker of general health. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine observed an increased risk of death for subjects with elevated levels of ALT. Elevated levels of the enzyme increased the risk of death by 63 percent.

Scientists at an English university have grown a miniature artificial human liver

Researchers in Newcastle University in northeast England made the ethical breakthrough by growing a miniature artificial human liver in their study of regenerative medicine, using stem cells from the umbilical cord i.e. without requiring the need for embryos.

This is very useful to pharmaceutical companies and they can use them to test new drugs without having to test on animals and humans. Also, these mini-livers could eventually be used like dialysis machines, giving time for a patient's liver to repair itself or while awaiting doctors to find a replacement liver.

The link between liver disease and type 2 diabetes

Swedish researchers who examined 212 patients between 1988 and 1993 found that 78 percent of the volunteers developed diabetes or prediabetes, a condition that often leads to type 2 diabetes. They also linked NFLD (Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease), which is sometimes described as a minor condition, to risk of developing end-stage liver disease.

The researchers therefore recommend that lifestyle modifications in all patients with NAFLD should be looked into. Not only would such action reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, intense dietary intervention may also improve liver histology in NFLD.

Treatment options for liver disease

The treatment of liver disease varies, depending on the type of disease. In some cases, treatment involves minimizing or treating complications that may arise due to liver disease.

Liver diseases may be treated with lifestyle changes, such as:
1) Avoiding alcohol or drinking in moderation. Alcohol can damage the liver, so avoiding or minimizing consumption is very important.
2) Avoiding medications that may damage the liver, such as acetaminophen.
3) Eating a well-balanced diet. Liver disease can sometimes impact the body's ability to absorb nutrients so patients must take special care to eat foods high in vitamins and minerals.
4) Following special diets. Patients with ascites and edema, two common complications of liver disease, may follow a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid buildup. Patients with Wilson's disease may be required to avoid foods that are high in copper, such as liver, shellfish, mushrooms and nuts.
5) Exercising regularly. This can help patients maintain a healthy weight.
Liver diseases may also be treated with medications, including:
6) Corticosteroids. A group of anti-inflammatory drugs used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body by reducing swelling, redness, itching and allergic reactions. They are used to treat autoimmune hepatitis and Budd Chiari syndrome.
7) Interferon. Naturally produced proteins in the immune response that attack viruses and other foreign agents. Interferon is used to treat viral hepatitis.
8) Beta blockers. Medication to treat high blood pressure. A common complication of liver disease is portal hypertension (increased blood pressure in the portal vein).
9) Chelating agent. Medication that binds to copper and helps eliminate it from the body. It is used to treat Wilson's disease.
10) Chemotherapy. This involves using powerful medications to kill cancer cells. Liver cancer is treated with chemotherapy.

What are the symptoms of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)?

The symptoms of NAFLD and NASH are identical. They are very bland (not dramatic) and non-specific (can also be observed in other diseases). They can occur at any adult age and, in children, usually appear after 10 years of age. Actually, most patients have no symptoms. They may, however, experience occasional, vague right upper-quadrant abdominal pain (below the rib-cage on the right side). This pain characteristically is dull and aching, without a predictable pattern of occurrence. It is not an intense, sudden, and severe pain, as might occur with, for example, gallstones. The abdominal pain in NAFLD and NASH is thought to be due to the stretching of the liver covering (capsule) when the liver enlarges and/or when there is inflammation in the liver.