Evaluation of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

ABSTRACT Adult studies demonstrate the co-existence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) without traditional risk factors. Data in children with IBD is lacking. Here, we sought to establish the prevalence of NAFLD in a single-center pediatric IBD cohort, and identify potential risk factors. After IRB approval, we enrolled children with IBD who underwent routine abdominal magnetic resonance enterography (MRE). Proton density Fat Fraction (PDFF) was then estimated on MRE. 83 patients with IBD were identified and PDFF maps completed. Five (6%) were found to have PDFF >5%, meeting criteria for NAFLD. Compared to the IBD patients without NAFLD, none of the evaluated risk factors including age, gender, diagnosis, time since diagnosis, medication,, median ALT nor weight status were statistically significant. Our findings demonstrate the occult nature of NAFLD in pediatric IBD. The prevalence is not at variance with what is expected in general teenage populations.