Serum IgA Levels do not Correlate with Liver Disease Severity in Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Serum IgA is a biomarker of liver disease severity in adult NAFLD. The objective of this study was to assess whether this is true in pediatric NAFLD. This was a retrospective study of children followed in the Steatohepatitis Center of a tertiary care center (2010–2017). Serum IgA levels, histology and biochemical markers of hepatocellular injury and metabolic dysregulation were collected. Of the 600 children with available serum IgA levels (mean age 14 ± 3 years, 62% male, 80% non-Hispanic), IgA was elevated in 4%. The group with elevated IgA levels was younger and had a greater representation of Hispanic ethnicity compared to those with normal or low IgA. BMI and aminotransferases were not different between the groups. Histology was available for 170 children and was not different in those with elevated, normal and low IgA. In contrast to adults, serum IgA is not a biomarker of liver disease severity in pediatric NAFLD. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Marialena Mouzaki, MD MSc, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229 (E-mail: Marialena.mouzaki@cchmc.org) Received 15 May, 2018 Accepted 8 June, 2018 Disclosures: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Financial support: This study was not funded. © 2018 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology,

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