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de Ruyter H, Aitokari L, Lahti S, Riekki H, Huhtala H, Lakka T, Laivuori H, Kurppa K. Maternal gestational hypertension, smoking and pre-eclampsia are associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in overweight offspring. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2024; 103:1183-1191. [PMID: 38433535 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Due to a steep increase in obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has also become the most common chronic hepatic condition among children and adolescents. Various maternal and pregnancy-related factors have also been implicated in the development of MAFLD, but human studies remain scarce. MATERIAL AND METHODS Comprehensive data of 460 overweight or obese children aged 2-16 years were collected and combined with data on selected maternal and pregnancy-related factors for a case-control study. MALFD was defined as alanine aminotransferase >2× upper limit of normal. Children with and without MAFLD were compared regarding to the study variables and multivariable regression analysis was utilized. RESULTS Median age of the study children was 11.8 (quartiles 9.1-14.2) years; 44% were girls and 17.8% had MAFLD. Children with MAFLD were older (12.7 vs. 11.6 years, p = 0.002), while the groups did not differ age-standardized body mass index (BMI-SDS) or gender. Factors associated with MAFLD in a multivariable model considering also the offspring's present BMI-SDS, sex, and maternal prepregnancy overweight, were child's older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.28), maternal gestational smoking (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.16-3.47), gestational hypertension (OR 3.44, 95% CI: 1.08-11.0) and pre-eclampsia (OR 2.93, 95% CI: 1.15-7.45). There was no significant association between MAFLD and maternal BMI, birth anthropometrics or perinatal complications. CONCLUSIONS Maternal smoking, gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia were associated with MAFLD among overweight or obese children. Further prospective studies are needed to verify causal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna de Ruyter
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
| | - Linnea Aitokari
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Siiri Lahti
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
| | - Hanna Riekki
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo Lakka
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannele Laivuori
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kalle Kurppa
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- University Consortium of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Finland
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Katunin E, Aitokari L, Kivelä L, Ilus T, Huhtala H, Kaukinen K, Kurppa K. Measured levels of positive transglutaminase 2 antibodies are not associated with presentation or incidental endoscopic findings at celiac disease diagnosis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2024; 59:419-424. [PMID: 38164975 DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2023.2298709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES It has been suggested that celiac disease could be diagnosed non-invasively in adults with transglutaminase antibody (TGA) levels >10x upper limit of normal (ULN). It is, however, unclear if high values signify more advanced disease and higher risk of co-morbidities. We investigated the association between the TGA levels, clinical characteristics and non-celiac endoscopic findings. METHODS Medical data on 450 celiac disease patients at diagnosis were collected. They were further divided into those with high positive (>10x ULN, n = 164), moderately positive (1-10x ULN, n = 219), and negative (n = 67) TGA. RESULTS Median age of patients was 50 years and 60% were women. Patients with negative TGA were older (median age 58 vs. 51 vs. 46 years respectively, p = 0.002) and had more often weight loss (27% vs. 10% vs. 9%, p < 0.001) and abdominal pain or dyspepsia (40% vs 27% vs. 22%, p = 0.017) than did those with moderately positive/high TGA. The groups did not differ in sex, BMI, or other symptoms. Major endoscopic findings included one esophageal adenocarcinoma presenting with dysphagia, six esophagitis, three gastric ulcers, and 39 H. Pylori or other active gastritis. High, moderately positive or negative TGA levels were not associated with these findings in crude or age-adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS Presentation was similar in patients with moderate or high levels of TGA, whereas patients with negative TGA were different. The level of TGA was not associated with incidental endoscopic findings and the only malignancy presented with an alarm symptom atypical to celiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eneli Katunin
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland
| | - Linnea Aitokari
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Kivelä
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Children's Hospital, and Pediatric Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
- Pediatric Research Institute, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Tuire Ilus
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Gastroenterology and Alimentary Tract Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Katri Kaukinen
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kalle Kurppa
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- The University Consortium of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Finland
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Aitokari L, Hiltunen P, Huhtala H, Kurppa K, Kivelä L. Measurement practices of alanine aminotransferase in children: Temporal changes and etiology for increased values. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2024. [PMID: 38477384 DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Data on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) measurement practices and diagnoses associated with increased values are limited. We evaluated these issues by collecting ALT measurements from 1- to 16-year-old patients investigated in 1992-2018 in a tertiary center. Diagnoses were gathered in 2008-2018. Altogether 145,092 measurements from 28,118 children were taken 42% undergoing repeated testing. Testing increased from 21/1000 to 81/1000 children and the prevalence of elevated values fluctuated between 18% and 26%. An increase was seen especially in emergency care and departments of rheumatology, gastroenterology, hemato-oncology, and psychiatry. Common acute causes associated with elevated ALT were infections (45%), hemato-oncologic conditions (17%), and external reasons (13%), whereas autoimmune diseases (28%), psychiatric conditions (14%), and metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (10%) were common chronic causes. In conclusion, ALT testing increased 3.9-fold while the proportion of increased values remained stable, indicating that increased testing was justified. However, in some departments the testing efficiency was low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Aitokari
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Valkeakoski Social and Healthcare Center, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Valkeakoski, Finland
| | - Pauliina Hiltunen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kalle Kurppa
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
- The University Consortium of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Finland
| | - Laura Kivelä
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa, Tampere, Finland
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pediatric Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Aitokari L, Lahti S, Kivelä L, Riekki H, Hiltunen P, Vuorela N, Viitasalo A, Soininen S, Huhtala H, Lakka T, Kurppa K. Alanine aminotransferase cutoffs for the pediatric fatty liver disease: Major impact of the reference population. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2024; 78:488-496. [PMID: 38314943 DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.12040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES AND STUDY The often-recommended alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cutoffs (girls 21 U/l, boys 25 U/l) are based on a NHANES cohort. A novel concept of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) emphasizes the role of ALT. We tested the prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD in children with overweight or obesity applying population-based and NHANES-based cut-offs. METHODS Six- to seventeen-year-old children underwent data collection in a prospective Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study. ALT 95th percentiles were calculated from 1167 separate measurements considering various confounders. Test cohort comprised 1044 children with overweight/obesity. RESULTS ALT values increased at puberty onset (p = 0.031) and correlated negatively with age in girls (r = -0.222, p < 0.001). Particularly overall and central obesity increased ALT, whereas underweight or metabolic abnormalities had smaller effect. After applying the tested exclusions, the age-related ALT 95th percentiles were 24-29 U/l for girls and 29-32 U/l for boys. In 6-8-year-old children with overweight/obesity, the prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD were 21.6% and 2.4% with age-specific PANIC cutoffs. In older children, when NHANES-based cutoffs were used, there was a trend for higher prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD in all age groups for both sexes, reaching significance for increased ALT in 12-16-year-old boys (NHANES 63.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 56.4%-70.0% vs. PANIC 47.1%, 95% CI [40.1%-54.2%]) and 9-11-year-old girls (60.0% [49.4%-69.8%] vs. 31.8% [22.8%-42.3%]), respectively. Increased ALT/MASLD were more common in boys than in girls, and in boys these increased with age, whereas in girls these peaked at age 9-12 years. CONCLUSION A reference population impacts on the prevalence of increased ALT and MASLD. Considering this help optimizing screening while avoiding unnecessary investigations and surveillance. The prospective part of this study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov; identifier NCT01803776.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Aitokari
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Siiri Lahti
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Kivelä
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- Children's Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Riekki
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pauliina Hiltunen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Nina Vuorela
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anna Viitasalo
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sonja Soininen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Physician and Nursing Services, Health and Social Services Centre, Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, Varkaus, Finland
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo Lakka
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kalle Kurppa
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- The University Consortium of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Finland
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Riekki H, Aitokari L, Kivelä L, Lahti S, Hiltunen P, Vuorela N, Huhtala H, Lakka TA, Kurppa K. Prevalence and associated factors of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease in overweight Finnish children and adolescents. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1090344. [PMID: 37409224 PMCID: PMC10319394 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1090344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Data on the prevalence of pediatric fatty liver disease remain limited, partly due to challenges in diagnosis. A novel concept of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) makes it possible to establish the diagnosis in overweight children with sufficiently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and metabolic co-morbidities of MAFLD in a large group of overweight children. Methods Data on 703 patients aged 2-16 years examined due to overweight in different levels of healthcare in 2002-2020 were collected retrospectively from patient records. MAFLD was here defined as ALT >2x reference (>44 U/l in girls and >50 U/l in boys) in overweight children according to recently updated definition. Patients with MAFLD and without it were compared, and subgroup analyses were conducted among boys and girls. Results Median age was 11.5 years, and 43% were girls. Altogether 11% were overweight, 42% obese and 47% severely obese. Abnormal glucose metabolism was present in 44%, dyslipidemia in 51%, hypertension in 48% and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 2%. MAFLD prevalence varied between 14-20% in examined years without significant change (p=0.878). The pooled prevalence over the years was 15% (boys 18%, girls 11%; p=0.018), peaking in girls at early puberty and increasing in boys with age and puberty. Associated factors in boys were T2D (OR 7.55, 95% CI 1.23-46.2), postpubertal stage (5.39, 2.26-12.8), increased fasting insulin (3.20, 1.44-7.10), hypertriglyceridemia (2.97, 1.67-5.30), hyperglycemia (2.88, 1.64-5.07), decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (2.16, 1.18-3.99), older age (1.28, 1.15-1.42) and higher body-mass-index (1.01, 1.05-1.15), and in girls T2D (18.1, 3.16-103), hypertriglyceridemia (4.28, 1.99-9.21), and decreased HDL (4.06, 1.87-8.79). Conclusion Prevalence of MAFLD was 15%, with no statistically significant increase in the 2000s. The condition was associated in general with male gender, puberty stage and disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, and higher age and BMI in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Riekki
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Linnea Aitokari
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Kivelä
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Siiri Lahti
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pauliina Hiltunen
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Nina Vuorela
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo A. Lakka
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kalle Kurppa
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- University Consortium of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Finland
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