Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis program
Childhood obesity is epidemic in the country, and along with it, so are the health issues associated with obesity, including fatty liver disease. The liver disease associated with obesity is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is by far the most common severe liver disease in Americans. NAFLD can lead to a more severe condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which adds inflammation and scarring to fatty liver and can lead to liver cirrhosis. Some studies show that 20 to 40 percent of obese people develop NASH, and weight reduction can reverse the disease.
Patients with NASH are seen by a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team that includes pediatric liver specialists, registered dietitian, nurses and social worker. Since weight loss can greatly help to reduce the amount of excess fat in liver cells, our team works with obese patients and their families to help the child lose weight. Some of the ways in which they do this are:
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Educate them on proper diet and nutrition
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Help them devise an exercise plan and set and exercise goal
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Help them recognize habits that contribute to an intake of too many calories (for example, eating out too frequently, drinking a lot of soft drinks, and eating while watching TV)
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Help them devise a realistic diet plan to ensure they get the necessary amount of calories from healthy foods each day
The members of the NASH team are:
Peter F. Whitington, MD
Mark Fishbein, MD
Therese Hess, RN, BSN
Cindy Riazi, RN, BSN, CPN
Sally Ritz, RD, CSP, LDN
Laboratory research
The mechanisms involved in the progression of NASH are unknown, and Dr. Whitington’s laboratory has ongoing research in the study of NASH and its underlying causes. One study showed that an anti-inflammatory drug can reduce the progression of NASH. Another study led to better understanding of the molecular signaling involved in the development of NASH. Both of these studies have been published in numerous journals. Find more information here on NASH laboratory research.
Clinical research
In addition, our team has recently been included in a nationwide clinical study called the
Clinical Research Network in NASH. In this study, the very best centers from around the country are banding together with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve the care of people with fatty liver disease. Our team is engaged in several consortia with other respected and well-established centers to study other significant childhood liver diseases, including
biliary atresia, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and cholestatic liver disease.
Find more information on those and other consortia we participate in.