EZGİ KIRAN TAŞCI, KÜBRA DOĞAN
The Journal of Pediatric Research - 2025;12(2):55-59
Aim Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading chronic liver disease in children, closely linked to obesity. While liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis, there is an urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers. This study evaluated the potential diagnostic value of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) levels in pediatric NAFLD. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study included 38 children diagnosed with NAFLD via ultrasonography and 26 healthy controls. The patient group consisted of obese or overweight children with NAFLD attending a pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Healthy controls were age-matched, non-obese children without chronic diseases or active infections. Serum FGF-2 and TSG-6 levels were measured in both groups. RESULTS Among the 38 NAFLD patients (16 girls, 22 boys) and 26 controls (10 girls, 16 boys), the median FGF-2 level was significantly lower in the patient group (107.50 pg/mL, range: 25.90-533.80) compared to the controls (183.05 pg/mL, range: 50.90-709.80) (p=0.033). The median TSG-6 level was 3,564.60 pg/mL (range: 2,497.50-4,366) in the patient group and 3,504.15 pg/mL (range: 2,370.70-4,366) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.199). CONCLUSION Lower FGF-2 levels may play a crucial role in NAFLD pathophysiology and serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis. Further research is needed in order to validate these findings and to explore their clinical implications.
