Afraid of Fibroscan results

[SeekingHope10]

I am really scared right now. My ALT was 112 recently and my AST was 50. These numbers went down from 168 and 96. I have been a binge drinker for a long time and recently quit completely. My doc ordered a Fibroscan test. I wasn't told to not eat or drink prior to the test. My results that came back were horrible. I had this test prior to quitting alcohol. I drank for 3 days straight before the test (1.5-2 bottles of wine each night), then ate breakfast and had coffee less than 3 hours before the test. My results for the Fibroscan were: The median FIBROSCAN score is 11.8 kPa, which for this patient is consistent with METAVIR F4 fibrosis (cirrhosis)

The median CAP score is 305 dB/m, which for this patient is consistent with 67-100% hepatocyte steatosis.

Is it possible these results could be wrong due to drinking and eating before this test? I don't want to die.

[AyrshireK]

Hi Seeking Hope. Hopefully we can help put some positivity on your thread.

First off if your kPa is 11.8- and the cause of this is deemed to be alcohol related - then you haven't yet reached cirrhosis stage based on most fibroscan charts (different underlying conditions have different scores where they go up the scale and alcohol sits at about 19 kPa where F3 merges into F4). 11.8 kPa would still be in the F3 category.

Based on your blood results and elevation of ALT then you currently also have ongoing liver inflammation and this can also falsely inflate the kPa score in that fibroscan can't differentiate between inflammation and actual fibrous tissue so your score may not actually /technically be that high. It IS however high enough that you need to take the warning seriously and reconsider your relationship with alcohol - every sip from now on is like throwing petrol on a smouldering bonfire and the longer that goes on then cirrhosis will be inevitable based on your liver's current state. If you stop drinking, stop assaulting your liver then you give it a chance to recover even from F3 or even F4 early cirrhosis.

Yes your cap score of 305 puts you into the S3 grade of fatty liver - more than 67% of your liver is showing fatty change. This needs to be addressed too to prevent your liver becoming more damaged.

Eating or drinking before the scan won't have affected the result in any way, some people don't get that guidance before their fibroscan.

What is clear whether this is F3/F4 you need to make some significant positive lifestyle changes to improve your liver health and it IS possible. Have a look at the main British Liver Trust website for the advice on looking after your liver and living with a liver condition.

Hopefully you will have follow up with your medical team to help keep monitoring your condition and hopefully you'll see gradual improvement.

Best wishes, Katie