Katarína Gombošová, Emeše Majorová, Stella Majlingová, Milan Kuchta
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children and adolescents.
Emerging data suggests that children with NAFLD progress to cirrhosis which may ultimately increase liver-related mortality.
NAFLD is associated with abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance. NAFLD is nowadays considered
the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome among adults. However, the relationship between NAFLD, metabolic
syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors in children is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine
characteristics of patients with NAFLD and to determine the association between NAFLD and the presence of metabolic
syndrome in overweight and obese children and children with lipid metabolism disorders. 20% of the patients fulfilled criteria
of metabolic syndrome according to modified definition of the International diabetes federation (IDF). All children with
NAFLD had at least one metabolic syndrome factor. Targeted screening for the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
and early markers of subclinical atherosclerosis should be a part of examination of overweight and obese children,
or in presence of metabolic syndrome features. These patients should be followed up, educated and complete preventive
and therapeutical interventions to prevent the development of the disease or its complications should be accomplished.