Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children
Pediatric obesity has become a major public health problem worldwide, resulting in a wide spectrum of systemic complications. Liver disease associated with obesity, also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is currently the most common chronic liver condition in children. Therefore, it...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| author | Cristina Oana Mărginean Lorena Elena Meliț Maria Oana Săsăran |
| author_facet | Cristina Oana Mărginean Lorena Elena Meliț Maria Oana Săsăran |
| author_sort | Cristina Oana Mărginean |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pediatric obesity has become a major public health problem worldwide, resulting in a wide spectrum of systemic complications. Liver disease associated with obesity, also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is currently the most common chronic liver condition in children. Therefore, its timely and proper diagnosis is essential for preventing further development of cirrhosis. Multiple studies focused on identifying the most accurate non-invasive diagnostic method for liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. Although liver biopsy remains the gold-standard in terms of this hepatopathy, elastography methods emerged as a relatively reliable alternative to liver biopsy. Thus, recent studies revealed the great importance of these non-invasive methods not only in diagnosing pediatric NAFLD, but also in its staging. MRE is commonly considered to have a greater accuracy than ultrasound-based elastography methods, but with lower availability and higher costs. Ultrasound-based elastography methods (transient elastography (TE), p-SWE, and 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE)) were proved to have similar accuracy in NAFLD staging. Nevertheless, multiple confounding factors account for potential challenges when using elastography for liver stiffness measurement, such as age, obesity itself (i.e., BMI), transaminase levels, or portal flow. A potential solution for facing these challenges might be represented by a complex approach based on the combination between elastography, clinical and laboratory findings. Although the studies that assessed the role of elastography in pediatric NAFLD staging are scarce, the current knowledge underlines a crucial role of these techniques taking into account their ability to distinguish between fibrosis degrees, their non-invasive patterns, lower costs and side effects when compared to liver biopsy. Therefore, elastography might become a cornerstone in staging pediatric NAFLD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:36:34Z |
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| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:36:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-435e1d456cfb4d65ad6f2ebef9b611e82023-11-21T14:13:19ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-04-01117324010.3390/app11073240Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in ChildrenCristina Oana Mărginean0Lorena Elena Meliț1Maria Oana Săsăran2Department of Pediatrics I, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, Gheorghe Marinescu Street no 38, 540136 Transylvania, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics I, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, Gheorghe Marinescu Street no 38, 540136 Transylvania, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics III, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureș, Gheorghe Marinescu Street no 38, 540136 Transylvania, RomaniaPediatric obesity has become a major public health problem worldwide, resulting in a wide spectrum of systemic complications. Liver disease associated with obesity, also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is currently the most common chronic liver condition in children. Therefore, its timely and proper diagnosis is essential for preventing further development of cirrhosis. Multiple studies focused on identifying the most accurate non-invasive diagnostic method for liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. Although liver biopsy remains the gold-standard in terms of this hepatopathy, elastography methods emerged as a relatively reliable alternative to liver biopsy. Thus, recent studies revealed the great importance of these non-invasive methods not only in diagnosing pediatric NAFLD, but also in its staging. MRE is commonly considered to have a greater accuracy than ultrasound-based elastography methods, but with lower availability and higher costs. Ultrasound-based elastography methods (transient elastography (TE), p-SWE, and 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE)) were proved to have similar accuracy in NAFLD staging. Nevertheless, multiple confounding factors account for potential challenges when using elastography for liver stiffness measurement, such as age, obesity itself (i.e., BMI), transaminase levels, or portal flow. A potential solution for facing these challenges might be represented by a complex approach based on the combination between elastography, clinical and laboratory findings. Although the studies that assessed the role of elastography in pediatric NAFLD staging are scarce, the current knowledge underlines a crucial role of these techniques taking into account their ability to distinguish between fibrosis degrees, their non-invasive patterns, lower costs and side effects when compared to liver biopsy. Therefore, elastography might become a cornerstone in staging pediatric NAFLD.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/7/3240elastographychildrennonalcoholic fatty liver disease |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Oana Mărginean Lorena Elena Meliț Maria Oana Săsăran Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children Applied Sciences elastography children nonalcoholic fatty liver disease |
| title | Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children |
| title_full | Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children |
| title_fullStr | Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children |
| title_short | Elastography—A Bona Fide Non-Invasive Method for Assessing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children |
| title_sort | elastography a bona fide non invasive method for assessing non alcoholic fatty liver disease in children |
| topic | elastography children nonalcoholic fatty liver disease |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/7/3240 |
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