Assessing prevalence and history of fatty liver using FibroScan: A single-center study

2025-06-23T11:45:54+08:00

Background and Objectives: Cirrhosis is the primary factor of morbidity and mortality in individuals with chronic liver conditions. This study identified fatty liver prevalence, risk factors, and cirrhosis in outpatient clinics in a single-center study. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study enrolled 195 patients attending an outpatient clinic who met predefined eligibility criteria. Eligible patients underwent fibrosis assessment using the FibroScan® device, a non-invasive tool for evaluating liver fibrosis. Results: The study sample (mean age: 45.23 years, SD = 15.1) included 48.7% young adults, 36.9% middle-aged individuals, 14.4% elderly participants, and males (54.4%). Key risk factors included smoking (51.8%), diabetes (12.3%), hypertension (5.6%), and having hepatitis B virus (4.6%). Steatosis was absent in 5.13% of cases, while 94.9% showed some degree: mild (6.15%), moderate (12.82%), or severe (75.9%). Moderate scarring was the most prevalent form of fibrosis, followed by severe scarring (9%). The prevalence of cirrhosis among outpatients was 8% in this study. Overall, the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence among outpatients was 39% in this study. The cirrhosis scores were substantially higher in elderly patients compared to middle-aged and young individuals (21.43% vs. 11.11% and 2.11%; P < 0.0001). Diabetic patients also showed a higher prevalence of cirrhosis than non-diabetics (16.67%
vs. 7.02%; P = 0.0020), as did hypertensive patients compared to non-hypertensive patients (27.27% vs. 7.07%; P = 0.0201). Conclusion: This study showed the high prevalence of cirrhosis and NAFLD in the outpatient clinic and was associated with older age, diabetes, and hypertension.

Liver status and metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease/steatohepatitis presence by Fibroscan® in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A Faraday study

2025-02-24T19:06:37+08:00

Background and Objectives: Evaluation of liver fibrosis is imperative in the management of chronic hepatitis B. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with necroinflammation contribute significantly to liver damage. This study aims to investigate the role of vibration-controlled transient elastography (FibroScan®) as a non-invasive method for diagnosis and treatment follow-up. Methods: The study was prospectively planned in four different centers. Patients who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen for more than 6 months and had an HBV-DNA > 2000 IU/mL underwent liver biopsy and FibroScan®. FibroScan® was performed before antiviral therapy and 1 year after treatment. Results: A total of 70 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 37.1 years, and 70.0% of the patients were male. The concordance rate with simultaneous elastography in 68 biopsies was 97.1% (P < 0.001). In 66 patients (97.0%), the liver fibrosis score was ≥ 2 or the hepatic activity index was ≥ 6. At the beginning of antiviral treatment, 19 patients (27.1%) had MASLD and 6 patients (8.6%) had MASH. The MASLD rate decreased to 25.7% (P = 0.064), and there was no change in MASH rate at the end of 1 year. The concordance rate with liver biopsy was found to be acceptable. Conclusion: FibroScan® was as useful as liver biopsy in the evaluation of chronic viral hepatitis-associated fibrosis as well as in the diagnosis and follow-up of concomitant MASLD/MASH.

Gastroenterology and Functional Medicine

Assessing prevalence and history of fatty liver using FibroScan: A single-center study

Liver status and metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease/steatohepatitis presence by Fibroscan® in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A Faraday study