E. Rudež
Osnovno zdravstvo Gorenjske, Zdravstveni dom Škofja Loka, Škofja Loka, Slovenija

J. Brecelj
Klinični oddelek za gastroenterologijo, hepatologijo in nutricionistiko, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana in Katedra za pediatrijo, Medicinska fakulteta Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of elevated liver aminotransferases in an asymptomatic child. In children with elevated liver aminotransferases, tests need to be repeated in two to three weeks and muscular disease should be excluded. If liver tests are persistently pathological, further diagnostic tests should be performed. There is no specific diagnostic test for NAFLD, so other causes of liver fatty disease should be excluded, especially viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver disease, toxic causes, Wilson‘s disease and alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. The level of hepatic fibrosis can be determined by ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography. In unclear cases, a liver biopsy is required to establish the diagnosis.

Key words: aminotransferase, children, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, liver biopsy.