Open AccessAre body surface area based estimates of liver volume applicable to children with overweight or obesity? An in vivo validation study
Author(s) -
HoseyCojocari Chelsea,
Chan Sherwin S.,
Friesen Chance S.,
Robinson Amie,
Williams Veronica,
Swanson Erica,
O’Toole Daniel,
Radford Jansynn,
Mardis Neil,
Johnson Trevor N.,
Leeder J. Steven,
Shakhnovich Valentina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical and translational science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.303
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1752-8062
pISSN - 1752-8054
DOI - 10.1111/cts.13059
Subject(s) - body surface area , overweight , medicine , obesity , population , magnetic resonance imaging , body mass index , physiology , endocrinology , radiology , environmental health
The liver is the primary organ responsible for clearing most drugs from the body and thus determines systemic drug concentrations over time. Drug clearance by the liver appears to be directly related to organ size. In children, organ size changes as children age and grow. Liver volume has been correlated with body surface area (BSA) in healthy children and adults and has been estimated by functions of BSA. However, these relationships were derived from “typical” populations and it is unknown whether they extend to estimations of liver volumes for population “outliers,” such as children with overweight or obesity, who today represent one‐third of the pediatric population. Using computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, this study measured liver volumes in 99 children (2–21 years) with normal weight, overweight, or obesity and compared organ measurements with estimates calculated using an established liver volume equation. A previously developed equation relating BSA to liver volume adequately estimates liver volumes in children, regardless of weight status.