Resumen

ARZA, Francisco; CHAPARRO, Nora; MIRANDA-ALCARAZ, Dora  y  CANTERO-ZAYAS, Paula. Usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in overweight or obese children who attend the Encarnación Regional Hospital from March to June 2019. Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. [online]. 2019, vol.14, n.2, pp.18-31. ISSN 1996-3696.  https://doi.org/10.18004/imt/201914218-31.

Childhood obesity is increasing, related to bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle; It can lead to the development of metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, including liver steatosis.

The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of ultrasound in the detection of hepatic steatosis in overweight or obese children who attended the Regional Hospital of Encarnación from March to June 2019.

Fifty children of both sexes from 5 to 14 years old were studied with overweight or obesity, through clinical examination, anthropometry, ultrasound and biochemical markers.

18 patients (36%) were found with hepatic steatosis, by ultrasound, predominantly in men, with severe obesity of visceral type. Acanthosis nigricans, the abdominal perimeter above the 90th percentile, GPT and elevated serum triglycerides, were the most relevant findings associated with hepatic steatosis.

Simple B-mode ultrasound proved to be a useful method for the detection of hepatic steatosis in obese children, associated with the presence of abdominal perimeter above the 90th percentile, Acanthosis nigricans, GPT and elevated triglycerides. This initial management scheme would be very useful and easy to apply in the evaluation and control of this condition that is increasing in the pediatric population.

Palabras clave : childhood obesity; hepatic steatosis; ultrasound; abdominal perimeter; GPT.

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