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.

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.

Gastroenterology and Functional Medicine

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

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