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Yield of diagnostic tests in obese children with an elevated alanine aminotransferase
Author(s) -
Rudolph Bryan,
Rivas Yolanda,
Kulak Shulamit,
Pan Debra,
Ewart Michelle,
Levin Terry L.,
Thompson John F.,
Scharbach Kathryn
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13176
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , population , liver biopsy , gastroenterology , liver disease , fatty liver , autoimmune hepatitis , hepatitis , disease , biopsy , environmental health
Abstract Aim Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) is associated with obesity and affects roughly 10% of children. However, NAFLD is often diagnosed by exclusion – that is, obese children with an elevated alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) are screened for other liver diseases in the absence of a biopsy. This testing is nonstandardized, and professional society recommendations differ. This study examines the yield of testing for disorders other than NAFLD in this patient population. Methods A retrospective study was performed in 120 obese, asymptomatic, noncholestatic children with an ALT ≥40 U/L and additional diagnostic testing. Results No patients were found to have Wilson's, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cytomegalovirus, alpha‐1 antitrypsin deficiency, autoimmune hepatitis, celiac disease or Epstein–Barr virus. Only one patient (1/120) was identified with definite disease other than NAFLD , which was muscular dystrophy. The positive predictive value of a screening test was 5%, and the specificity was 97%. Of 70 children with an abdominal ultrasound, no significant abnormalities were identified. Conclusion Extensive testing in asymptomatic, noncholestatic, obese children with an elevated ALT may be of limited diagnostic value and false‐positive tests are likely. Large, prospective studies are needed to help focus the work up in this patient population.