Researchers at IIS La Fe Develop a Non-Invasive Test to Detect Fatty Liver Risk in Epileptic Children Treated with Anticonvulsant Medication

A team of researchers from the Health Research Institute La Fe (IIS La Fe) and the Biomedical Research Networking Center for Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD) has identified new plasma biomarkers for the early detection of fatty liver in pediatric epilepsy patients treated with valproate. This breakthrough, published in the journal Toxicology, highlights the role of microRNAs as key tools for the non-invasive monitoring of early liver damage in these patients.

The study, led by Professor Ramiro Jover, was conducted in collaboration with the Neuropediatrics Unit at La Fe Hospital and included 80 patients. The identified biomarkers correlate with triglyceride levels in the liver and provide a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods such as liver biopsy, simplifying the detection and monitoring of this condition in young patients.

Valproate is a medication primarily used to treat epilepsy. Its main function is to stabilize electrical activity in the brain, helping to prevent seizures. Despite its effectiveness, valproate has side effects, one of which can be fat accumulation in the liver, potentially affecting liver health, especially in long-term treatments.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

"The use of this microRNA signature would allow for early detection of fat accumulation in the liver of pediatric patients treated with valproate, enabling adjustments to their treatment and preventing more severe liver damage," noted Professor Jover.

Dr. Ana Marco, a neuropediatrician responsible for the clinical aspects of the research, emphasized, "The identified microRNA signature as predictors of fatty liver could significantly impact the clinical management of pediatric epilepsy, providing an alert and allowing us to monitor potential liver risks."

This advance underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration between researchers and healthcare professionals in generating biomedical knowledge applied to public health. The microRNA signature developed in this study could significantly impact the clinical management of pediatric epilepsy, offering a pathway to safely adjust treatment and minimize liver risks.

About the Mixed Unit of Experimental Hepatology

The Mixed Unit of Experimental Hepatology, composed of teaching and research staff from the University of Valencia and the Health Research Institute La Fe, is a hub of researchers focusing on liver studies, hepatic metabolism, and drug-induced hepatotoxicity. The unit has gained notable recognition for its extensive track record and scientific contributions, standing out as pioneers in establishing human hepatocyte cultures, developing predictive methods to identify potential hepatotoxicity of new drugs, and advancing cellular therapy with hepatocytes.

The unit is also part of CIBEREHD (Liver and Digestive Diseases of the Carlos III Health Institute) and has played a prominent role in European Research Projects, including the recent EUTOXRISK (An Integrated European 'Flagship' Program Driving Mechanism-based Toxicity Testing and Risk Assessment for the 21st Century) and ONTOX (Ontology-driven and artificial intelligence-based repeated dose toxicity testing of chemicals for next-generation risk assessment), with the latter project still ongoing.

Reference:
Soluyanova, P., Del Pozo, M., Moro-Castaño, E., Marco-Hernandez, A. V., Castell, J. V., & Jover, R. (2024). A microRNA signature for valproate-induced steatosis in human hepatocytes and its application to predict fatty liver in pediatric epileptic patients on valproate therapy. Toxicology, 153974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2024.153974