Acute Disease ; Fatty Liver/diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVETo early assess the impaired renal function in the obese children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to identify the relationship between NAFLD and impairment of renal function.

METHODSThree hundred and eighty-six obese children were enrolled and divided into NAFLD group and simple obesity group (control) according to the diagnostic criteria. Clinical biochemical parameters and early impaired renal functions were evaluated and compared. Among all patients 234 obese children aged over 10 y were subdivided into 3 groups: NAFLD combined with metabolic syndrome (NAFLD+MS) group, NAFLD group and simple obesity group (control), and the above indexes were compared among 3 groups.

RESULTSThe urinary microalbumin levels in NAFLD, NAFLD+MS (>10y) and NAFLD groups (>10y) were significantly higher than those in controls. Additionally, the positive correlations of urinary microalbumin with systolic pressure, triglyceride and 2h-postprandial blood glucose were found.

CONCLUSIONThere is early renal dysfunction in children with NAFLD and those accompanied with MS, which may be associated with hypertension and glucose-lipid metabolic disorder. The results indicate that NAFLD is not only an early sign of early impaired renal function but also an early stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in obese children.

Adolescent ; Albuminuria ; diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fatty Liver ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Obesity ; complications ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND: There is little published evidence about the role of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the progression from prehypertension to hypertension. This study was conducted to investigate the association of NAFLD and its severity with the risk of hypertension developing from prehypertension. METHODS: The study cohort comprised 25,433 participants from the Kailuan study with prehypertension at baseline; those with excessive alcohol consumption and other liver diseases were excluded. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography and stratified as mild, moderate, or severe. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident hypertension according to the presence and 3 categories of severity of NAFLD. RESULTS: During a median of 12.6 years of follow-up, 10,638 participants progressed to hypertension from prehypertension. After adjusting for multiple risk factors, patients with prehypertension and NAFLD had a 15% higher risk of incident hypertension than those without NAFLD (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.21). Moreover, the severity of NAFLD was associated with the incidence of hypertension, which was higher in patients with more severe NAFLD (HR = 1.15 [95% CI 1.10-1.21] in the mild NAFLD group; HR = 1.15 [95% CI 1.07-1.24] in the moderate NAFLD group; and HR = 1.20 [95% CI 1.03-1.41] in the severe NAFLD group). Subgroup analysis indicated that age and baseline systolic blood pressure may modify this association. CONCLUSIONS NAFLD is an independent risk factor for hypertension in patients with prehypertension. The risk of incident hypertension increases with the severity of NAFLD.
Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications* ; Prehypertension/diagnosis* ; Risk Factors ; Hypertension ; Incidence

Liver fibrosis is a slow, insidious process involving accumulation of extracellular matrix protein in the liver. The stage of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease (CLD) determines overall morbidity and mortality; the higher the stage, the worse the prognosis. Noninvasive composite scores can be used to determine whether patients with CLD have significant or advanced fibrosis. Patients with low composite scores can be safely followed up in primary care with periodic reassessment. Those with higher scores should be referred to a specialist. As the epidemic of diabetes mellitus, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases is rising, CLD is becoming more prevalent. Easy-to-use fibrosis assessment composite scores can identify patients with minimal or advanced fibrosis, and should be an integral part of decision-making. Patients with cirrhosis, high composite scores, chronic hepatitis B with elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, or deranged liver panel of uncertain aetiology should be referred to a specialist.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Decision Making ; End Stage Liver Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Treatment Outcome

Biopsy ; China ; epidemiology ; Fatty Liver ; complications ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; virology ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Risk Factors

Adult ; Fatty Liver ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe incidences of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) are very high in obese children, and insulin resistance may be the key point linking them together. Debates still remain as to whether NAFLD could be a component of MS. Some researchers reported that NAFLD was a composition of MS, while the others stated that NAFLD was an independent predicting factor of MS. Here we analyzed the prevalence of NAFLD and MS in 308 obese children who came to our endocrinology department from June 2003 to September 2006, and we also evaluated the relationship between NAFLD and MS in this group of obese children.

METHODTotally 308 obese children aged from 9 to 14 years with mean age of (10.7 +/- 2.6) years were enrolled. Two hundred and thirty one were males, and 77 were females. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), biochemical indicators, liver B-mode ultrasound examination, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin releasing test were performed for all of the cases. The incidences of NAFLD including simple nonalcoholic fatty liver (SNAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as well as MS were calculated. Three subgroups were selected according to the diagnostic criteria: Group 1: OCWLD (obese children without liver disorder), Group 2: SNAFL and Group 3: NASH. The prevalence of MS, components of MS, free insulin, whole body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)) were compared among these three subgroups.

RESULT(1) Among all the obese children, the prevalence of NAFLD, SNAFL, NASH and MS was 65.9% (203), 45.5% (140), 20.5% (63) and 24.7% (76) respectively. Among all the MS children, the prevalence of NAFLD was 84.2% (64/76). The prevalence of MS was 29.3% (41/140) in SNAFL group and 36.5% (23/63) in NASH group, which was significantly higher than that of OCWLD group 11.4% (12/105) (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between SNAFL group and NASH group (P > 0.05). Moreover, there were significantly higher incidences in NASH group concerning every component of MS (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia) compared with that of OCWLD group. The incidence of hypertension in SNAFL was significantly higher than that of OCWLD group. And the incidence of hyperlipidemia was markedly increased in NASH group compared with SNAFL group. NAFLD group had higher free insulin and more severe IR compared with that of OCWLD group. When OCWLD developed to SNAFL and NASH, free insulin and IR deteriorated calculated by HOMA-IR and WBISI. However there was no significant difference between NAFLD and MS children concerning free insulin and IR.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of NAFLD and MS hits high in obese children. The prevalence of NAFLD was very high among children with MS and NAFLD and MS shared the common mechanism of IR. The higher prevalence of MS and higher frequencies of MS components were tightly associated with the development of NAFLD and severity of IR.

Adolescent ; Child ; Fatty Liver ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Obesity ; complications ; epidemiology ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: To identify the screening time and prepare a screening schedule for outpatients with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP).
 METHODS: AFLP patients who admitted to Xiangya Hospital and the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China between November, 2006 and December, 2013, were retrospectively studied. The diagnosis of 78 AFLP patients met the domestic clinical and laboratory criteria and the Swansea criteria. Clinical and laboratory data obtained on admission were used for analysis. Contrastive analysis was conducted within our data and other large medical centers or general hospitals. 
 RESULTS: The difference between domestic clinical and laboratory criteria and Swansea criteria in diagnosing AFLP patients in the 2 hospitals mentioned above was significant (P<0.05). The maternal mortality was 14.10% (11/78) and perinatal mortality was 17.95 % (14/78). The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.6 weeks. Based on the clinical and laboratory data, more than 85% of AFLP patients showed abnormal levels of transaminase, bilirubin, and white blood cells, as well as coagulation dysfunction. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain and vomiting, jaundice, renal impairment and ascites or bright liver on ultrasound scan, were showed in 50%-85% of AFLP patients. Less than 50% of patients suffered from low blood sugar, high blood ammonia or hepatic encephalopathy.
 CONCLUSION The 34th gestation week might be important time for screening AFLP outpatients. Gastrointestinal symptoms, blood routine, liver function, and coagulant function tests are recommended as the first grade screening indicators. Renal function, blood sugar test, and abdominal ultrasound could be the second grade screening indicators for AFLP outpatients.
China ; Fatty Liver ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Outpatients ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and maternal and fetal prognosis of pregnant women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). Methods: The clinical data of 86 AFLP pregnant women admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from September 2017 to August 2022 were collected, and their general data, clinical characteristics, laboratory tests and maternal and fetal outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) General information: the age of the 86 pregnant women with AFLP was (30.8±5.4) years, and the body mass index was (21.0±2.5) kg/m². There were 50 primiparas (58.1%, 50/86) and 36 multiparas (41.9%, 36/86). There were 64 singleton pregnancies (74.4%, 64/86) and 22 twin pregnancies (25.6%, 22/86). (2) Clinical characteristics: the main complaints of AFLP pregnant women were gastrointestinal symptoms, including epigastric pain (68.6%, 59/86), nausea (47.7%, 41/86), anorexia (46.5%, 40/86), vomiting (39.5%, 34/86). The main non-gastrointestinal symptoms were jaundice of skin and/or scleral (54.7%, 47/86), edema (38.4%, 33/86), fatigue (19.8%, 17/86), bleeding tendency (16.3%, 14/86), polydipsia or polyuria (14.0%, 12/86), skin itching (8.1%, 7/86), and 17.4% (15/86) AFLP pregnant women had no obvious symptoms. (3) Laboratory tests: the incidence of liver and kidney dysfunction and abnormal coagulation function in AFLP pregnant women was high, and the levels of blood ammonia, lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid were increased, and the levels of hemoglobin, platelet and albumin decreased. However, only 24 cases (27.9%, 24/86) of AFLP pregnant women showed fatty liver by imageology examination. (4) Pregnancy outcomes: ① AFLP pregnant women had a high incidence of pregnancy complications, mainly including renal insufficiency (95.3%, 82/86), preterm birth (46.5%, 40/86), hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (30.2%, 26/86), gestational diabetes mellitus (36.0%, 31/86), fetal distress (24.4%, 21/86), pulmonary infection (23.3%, 20/86), disseminated intravascular coagulation (16.3%, 14/86), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (16.3%, 14/86), hepatic encephalopathy (9.3%, 8/86), and intrauterine fetal death (2.3%, 2/86). ② Treatment and outcome of AFLP pregnant women: the intensive care unit transfer rate of AFLP pregnant women was 66.3% (57/86). 82 cases were improved and discharged after treatment, 2 cases were transferred to other hospitals for follow-up treatment, and 2 cases (2.3%, 2/86) died. ③ Neonatal outcomes: except for 2 cases of intrauterine death, a total of 106 neonates were delivered, including 39 cases (36.8%, 39/106) of neonatal asphyxia, 63 cases (59.4%, 63/106) of neonatal intensive care unit admission, and 3 cases (2.8%, 3/106) of neonatal death. Conclusions: AFLP is a severe obstetric complication, which is harmful to mother and fetus. In the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment, attention should be paid to the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests of pregnant women, early diagnosis and active treatment, so as to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.
Pregnancy ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Premature Birth/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis* ; Fatty Liver/diagnosis* ; Fetal Death ; Stillbirth

Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as the noninvasive diagnosis of HCC in high-risk patients by typical imaging findings alone is widely adopted in major practice guidelines for HCC. While imaging techniques have markedly improved in detecting small liver lesions, they often detect incidental benign liver lesions and non-hepatocellular malignancy that can be misdiagnosed as HCC. The most common mimicker of HCC in cirrhotic liver is nontumorous arterioportal shunts that are seen as focal hypervascular liver lesions on dynamic contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. Rapidly enhancing hemangiomas can be easily misdiagnosed as HCC especially on MR imaging with liver-specific contrast agent. Focal inflammatory liver lesions mimic HCC by demonstrating arterial-phase hypervascularity and subsequent washout on dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. It is important to recognize the suggestive imaging findings for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) as the management of CC is largely different from that of HCC. There are other benign mimickers of HCC such as angiomyolipomas and focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodules. Recognition of their typical imaging findings can reduce false-positive HCC diagnosis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/radiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma/complications/radiography/ultrasonography ; Hepatitis B/complications ; Humans ; Inflammation/radiography/ultrasonography ; Liver/radiography/ultrasonography ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/radiography ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/radiography/ultrasonography