Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHODS: Children with NAFLD were compared with controls and classified by stages of fibrosis ( NAFLD-F0, n = 27; NAFLD-F≥1, n = 65) based on liver-biopsy findings. Fasted metabolic and cholestasis status was assessed by several blood tests. BA profiles were measured by tandem mass spectrometry and compared with healthy controls (n = 105). RESULTS: Compared with controls, all of the NAFLD patients were overweight and showed significantly elevated glucose, insulin, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase levels. Total serum BAs were lower in nonfibrotic NAFLD children than in a control cohort (1.73 vs 3.6 μmol/L) because low glycine-conjugated BA levels were incompletely compensated by increases in taurine-conjugated or unconjugated BA. In patients with fibrotic NAFLD, BA levels were lower than in controls (2.45 vs 3.6 μmol/L) but higher than in nonfibrotic patients (2.45 vs 1.73 μmol/L), and the BA pattern resembled that of healthy controls. Fibroblast growth factor 19 levels were significantly lower in both NAFLD groups than in controls (P ≤ 0.001) and were positively correlated with ursodeoxycholic acid levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that serum BA levels decrease in early NAFLD and increase during progression to fibrosis. Given that BA levels are increased in cirrhotic adults, we postulate a continuous rise as NAFLD advances. BA may have a value as a noninvasive biomarker in pediatric NAFLD progression.
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Authors | Jörg Jahnel, Evelyn Zöhrer, Anna Alisi, Federica Ferrari, Sara Ceccarelli, Rita De Vito, Hubert Scharnagl, Tatjana Stojakovic, Günter Fauler, Michael Trauner, Valerio Nobili |
Journal | Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
(J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr)
Vol. 61
Issue 1
Pg. 85-90
(Jul 2015)
ISSN: 1536-4801 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 25729888
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Bile Acids and Salts
(blood)
- Case-Control Studies
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Humans
- Liver
(pathology)
- Liver Cirrhosis
(blood, etiology)
- Male
- Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
(blood, complications)
- Young Adult
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