HIBOC = Hepatic Imaging Biomarkers in Obese Children

Background Childhood obesity is a global health problem with a prevalence of 10%. Overweight and obesity are strongly associated with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), which includes a continuum of fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cancer. Early diagnosis is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality but requires detailed characterization of the liver, for which invasive biopsies are the gold standard.

New ultrasound-based markers are promising, non-invasive methods for liver characterization; Shear Wave Dispersion (SWD), Shear Wave Elastography (SWE), and Attenuation Imaging (ATI) have been reported as promising for reflecting inflammation, fibrosis, and steatosis in the liver, respectively. Clinical studies are needed to validate the usefulness of these markers, particularly in children.

Purpose The study aims to determine whether imaging markers (ultrasound and MRI) for liver disease can be tools to improve diagnostics for liver affection in children with obesity and to ascertain how the markers are related to multiple clinical measures, for example BMI and serology measures, and treatment effects over time.

Material & Method This study is a prospective diagnostic observational study, including children (approximately 300) referred for obesity to several Pediatric Clinics in Västra Götaland, Sweden. Inclusion criteria are: age 9-14 years, BMI > 29, obesity > 1 year. Exclusion criteria: comorbidity that can affect the liver. Ultrasound with measurements of the livermarkers SWE, SWD, and ATI will be performed at inclusion and during annual visits over 3 years. SWE, SWD, and ATI will be compared with parameters included in clinical monitoring, such as weight, height, BMI, blood tests, blood pressure, waist circumference, physical activity, screen habits, etc. In a subcohort, estimated 50 children, with obesity-related disease as indication for referral and treatment to Queen Silvias Childrens Hospital, additionally MRI will be performed at inclusion.

Significance Imaging-based liver markers have great potential to improve diagnostics in children with obesity by reflecting liver disease without a biopsy. If these markers can be used to early diagnose liver disease before it becomes manifest, it is a significant gain. Additionally, if it is possible to distinguish between different pathoanatomical phenotypes (fibrosis/inflammation/steatosis) without a biopsy, it is possible to monitor the disease more rigorously, which opens new opportunities to optimize treatment for the individual child.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 9 to 14 years
• New referral/first visit or follow-up annual visit at each healthcare center (Child and adolescent oriented centers) included
• BMI 30 or more
• Obesity >1 year at inclusion

Exclusion criteria

• Difficulty understanding written/oral information
• Comorbidities that can affect the liver (e.g., medications or diseases with known liver impact)
• Claustrophobia (applies to the MRI cohort)
• Implants or other factors that prevent MRI (applies to the MRI cohort)