NIH Radio
"NASH" Launches Trial of Liver Disease Treatment
Brief Description:
The Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network-known by it's initials "NASH" will launch a trial to treat a liver disease in children known as NAFLD, which stands for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
Transcript:
Akinso: It's well-known that alcohol is a major cause of liver disease, but studies have shown that there's a liver disease that impacts kids who haven't used alcohol. The Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network-known by it's initials "NASH" will launch a trial to treat a liver disease in children known as NAFLD, which stands for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. The trial, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, will enroll 180 boys and girls, aged 8 to 15 years. Doctor Joel Lavine, Chair of the NASH Clinical Research Network Pediatrics Sub-committee is optimistic that they'll find a remedy for the disease.
Lavine: We call this trial "TONIC", which stands for The Treatment of NAFLD in Children. And we're hoping that one of the treatment groups that we're trying will be a tonic for this condition.
Akinso: Patients with inflammation and liver injury along with fat in the liver are said to have Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Dr. Lavine says that's a precursor to NAFLD.
Lavine:Certainly we've increasingly recognized NAFLD in children. In part, this is because of increase recognition on the parts of our health care providers, and we think also it mirrors the rise in childhood obesity. As the number of obese children in the last 30-40 years has tripled we also think that this has triggered a rise in NAFLD. That's because almost all children with NAFLD have insulin resistance and almost all children who are obese have some degree of insulin resistance.
Akinso: For more information, visit, www.nashcrn.com. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 10/14/2005
Reporter: Wally Akinso
Sound Bite: Dr. Joel Lavine
Topic: Liver Disease
Institute(s): NIDDK
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