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World Journal of Pediatrics
Published in: World Journal of Pediatrics 6/2018

01-12-2018 | Review Article

Advances in diagnosis of chronic liver diseases in pediatric patients

Authors: Lucija Ruzman, Ivana Mikolasevic, Kristina Baraba Dekanic, Sandra Milic, Goran Palcevski

Published in: World Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 6/2018

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Abstract

Background

Chronic liver diseases (CLD) present important clinical problem in children with various age-dependent causes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with its increasing prevalence is a major problem with regard to its timely recognition and the need for long-term disease monitoring. At present, a perfect non-invasive method for the evaluation of liver fibrosis is not available.

Methods

A non-systematic literature search was performed to summarize the current knowledge about transient elastography (TE) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in children with CLD. Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Google scholar, and The Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles evaluating TE in the pediatric population.

Results

Normal values of liver stiffness measurements (LSM) according to the age are given, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the method. The utility of TE in specific liver disease in pediatric population is summarized.

Conclusions

TE with CAP is a valuable non-invasive method for the liver-damage assessment. Clinical interpretation of TE results should be made in parallel with the assessment of the patient’s demographics, disease etiology, and essential laboratory parameters.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Advances in diagnosis of chronic liver diseases in pediatric patients
Authors
Lucija Ruzman
Ivana Mikolasevic
Kristina Baraba Dekanic
Sandra Milic
Goran Palcevski
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
Childrens Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Published in
World Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 6/2018
Print ISSN: 1708-8569
Electronic ISSN: 1867-0687
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-018-0197-8

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