ELF Tests

[Muse12]

Morning everyone, i hope you are keeping well. Do ELF tests include testing for auto immune hepatitis? The reason I am asking is that since April I have not recieved a report of any change in my fatty liver despite losing 3.5 stones, I am now not much overweight. I am due a screen and want to ask the right questions.

[Muse12]

April 2020

[Hidden]

Good morning. An ELF test is designed to look at whether there is any stiffening (fibrosis in the liver). It will not include any test for autoimmune hepatitis, this would be a separate test. I am going to give you some links to information which I hope will be useful: the patient charter (what care you should expect to receive if you have a diagnosis of liver disease). At the end of this there are suggested questions to ask your doctors.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

You might also consider calling our free telephone helpline. You would then be able to talk to one of our liver specialist nurses. It is open Mon-Fri (not bank holidays) 10:00 - 15:00

0800 652 7330

regards

[Muse12 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou I'll look at these.

[AyrshireK]

No, ELF test is the enhance liver fibrosis test which is a set of bloods which can indicate fibrosis severity.

Standard Liver Function Tests also can't test for AIH.

A diagnosis of AIH is a jigsaw of lots of tests often including:- various auto immune antibody blood tests, liver biopsy to see what is going on in the liver at a cellular level, scans to stage liver disease and a positive response to steroids (bringing down inflammation markers).

AIH doesn't generally contribute towards fatty liver, but having had a diagnosis of fatty liver disease it will take time to reverse the build up. If you have lost such significant weight hopefully you will start to see some improvement in your liver.

Katie

[Muse12 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie, thankyou for your reply I also have scarring. I had a fibroscan last november 11.7kpa elf test result 7.69 I have improved my diet and exercise so expect some improvement this time. Fingers crossed, but if not I think other reasons for the problems need to be looked at.

[idyllic420 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hello Katie. Hope that you are doing well. What is an average time frame to heal fatty liver that you have noticed in your experience. The reason I ask this question is because lot of sites say that it takes 2 weeks to reverse a fatty liver! TIA

[AyrshireK in reply to idyllic420]

If a liver has taken years to get fatty it isn't going to reverse in weeks. I've no personal experience with fatty liver so can't give any sort of definitive answer.

Katie

[Muse12 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi katie it's been a year, April 2020 I was diagnosed.I would have hoped to see some improvement by now, I'll keep at it

[AyrshireK in reply to Muse12]

A fibroscan score of 11.7 kPa is on the cusp for F3/F4 fibrosis according to the fibrosan chart so it may take a while to see much improvement but obviously keep trying. You obviously need an up to date scan and monitoring of your liver - fatty liver which is at this upper end of scale needs keeping an eye on.

Best wishes, Katie