Modern Pediatrics. Ukraine. (2026).3(155): 42-50. doi: 10.15574/SP.2026.3(155).4250
Bolshova O. V., Malinovska T. M., Kvachenyuk D. A., Sprynchuk N. A., Pakhomova V. G., Lukashuk І. V.
SI «V.P. Komisarenko Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the NAMS of Ukraine», Kyiv

For citation: Bolshova OV, Malinovska TM, Kvachenyuk DA, Sprynchuk NA, Pakhomova VG, Lukashuk ІV. (2026). Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents with hypothalamic dysfunction. Modern Pediatrics. Ukraine. 3(155): 42-50. doi: 10.15574/SP.2026.3(155).4250.
Article received: Feb 17, 2026. Accepted for publication: Apr 13, 2026.

Aim – to determine the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and other cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents with hypothalamic dysfunction (HD), based on data from a single medical center.
Materials and methods. A total of 623 patients aged 10 to 17 years with HD were examined between 2019 and 2025. Body mass index, lipid profile, blood pressure, HOMA-IR, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), uric acid were determined; a standard glucose tolerance test (GTT) and ultrasound examination of internal organs were performed.
Results. Excess body weight/obesity was identified in 591 (94.86%) patients with HD. MASLD was diagnosed in 412 individuals. Among children/adolescents with HD+MASLD, the prevalence of obesity was twice as high as in those without MASLD (76.46% vs. 37.91%, respectively). The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors was distributed as follows: in patients with HD+MASLD: obesity was present in 76.46%, insulin resistance (IR) in 58.82%, dyslipidemia in 30.34%, arterial hypertension (AH) in 15.53%, elevated ALT and AST levels (50.73% and 30.83%, respectively), elevated uric acid levels in 11.40%, and impaired carbohydrate tolerance (ICT) in 10.67%; in the absence of MASLD: grade I obesity was present in 87.59%, excess body weight in 46.91%, dyslipidemia in 37.91%, IR in 33.12%, AH in 32.22%, elevated uric acid levels in 24.17%, and elevated ALT and AST levels (6.64% and 14.23%, respectively).
Conclusions. Significant cardiometabolic risk factors were identified in patients with HD, with MASLD being one of the most prominent. Differences in the prevalence of obesity, IR, dyslipidemia, AH, elevated ALT and AST levels, ICT were observed between patients with and without MASLD. Children and adolescents with HD require attention regarding the early detection and prevention of potential severe complications.
The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from the patients.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: hypothalamic dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, obesity, children, adolescents.

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