NAFLD and liver transplantation in children – Working group report from the ILTS single topic conference on NAFLD

Background NAFLD has now become a common cause of chronic liver disease in children, however unlike adults liver transplantation is rarely required as treatment. It is important that in children presenting with NAFLD, secondary causes of fatty liver particularly inherited metabolic defects should be excluded. Methods A pediatric working group comprised of 3 hepatologists and a liver transplant surgeon was tasked with a set of questions to address the current state of evidence and knowledge about NAFLD in children with particular focus on liver transplantation. A systematic review of the English literature regarding pediatric NAFLD (from birth to 18 years of age) published in the last 2 decades (2000-2018) was carried out. The evidence was evaluated by the subgroup members and further discussed with the wider workshop faculty leading to the recommendations for best practice. Results Given the paucity of literature on the subject good quality of evidence was only available on risk factors for NAFLD and medical treatment where the group could make recommendation with high/moderate strength. The evidence on natural history and indications for liver transplantation was poor hence group couldn't make any recommendations. Conclusions Based on the existing literature and subgroups collective experience NAFLD unlike adults is a very rare indication for liver transplantation in children. No definitive recommendations could be made about the natural history, indications and outcome of liver transplantation for NAFLD in children. Corresponding author: Prof. Anil Dhawan, Paediatric Liver GI and Nutrition Center, King's College Hospital, London (UK). E-mail. anil.dhawan@nhs.net Contributions. All authors revised the literature. CM and VP wrote the first draft of the article. DA provided the first revision of the article. All the authors revised the paper critically and gave final approval for submission. Conflict of interest statement: none of the authors has any conflicts of interest or financial interest to disclose. Financial support statement: nothing to declare. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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