ESPE Abstracts

Background: Hepatic steatosis is common in obese children. The pathophysiology remains unexplained but it is known that insulin resistance and hypertrilycerdemia are involved in its development.

Objective and hypotheses: To analyse the prevalence of hepatic steatosis identified by ultrasound, as well as features and anthropometric data in our population divided into two groups: (with steatosis and without steatosis) to assess the risk factors.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, 190 children aged 5–14 with BMI>2SD were evaluated from 1st January 2012 to 31st May 2015. Anthropometric data, family history, biochemical parameters as fasting glucose, fasting insulin, lipid profile, index (HOMA-IR) uric acid and the presence of acanthosis nigricans were evaluated. Liver ultrasound was performed to divide into two groups. All patients underwent to OGTT. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS13.0 program.

Results: 190 patients (51% male and 49% female). We found (36.84% had steatosis vs 63.15% without steatosis). Subjects with hepatic steatosis had mean age (13±1.7 years vs subjects without steatosis 10.4±1.4 years) P<0.05. The prevalence of family history of obesity in subjects with steatosis was higher (60% vs 44%) P<0.05, as well as BMI (31.7±2.2 vs 26.7±1.3) P<0.05, abdominal circumference (100±8 cm vs 90±15 cm) P<0.005, fating insulin (17.5±3.5 mIU/ml vs 14±5.5 mIU/ml) P<0.05, (HOMA-IR) (3.8±1.5 vs 2.8±1.1) P<0.05, triglycerides (123.1±6.4 mg/dl vs 74.4±5.3 mg/dl) P<0.005, GOT (40±4.7 U/L vs 26±2 U/L) P<0.005 and GPT (49±3.8 U/L vs 37±1.5 U/L respectively) P<0.05. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in subjects with steatosis compared to those without (39±4 mg/dl vs 48.8±3.8 mg/dl respectively) P<0.003. There was no significant difference in total serum cholesterol.

Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatic steatosis in our population is higher than other published reports. Our results show that hepatic steatosis is related with increased BMI, abdominal circumference, hypergtriglyceridemia and (HOMA-IR) Furthermore these parameters could be used to assess the risk of developing steatosis.