Fibroscan update

[Dontworrydarling]

Hello. I had a fibroscan at a BLT roadshow 6 months ago which scared me as it was 11.7kpa and cap 218. I'm a 45yo female.

I was sent for an ARFI ultrasound after this by my GP, which scored me as being at the lower end of F2 fibrosis ( 1.25m/s) with mild to moderate fatty infiltration. The ultrasound said 'the surface of the liver was mildy course indicative of underlying fibrotic change'.

I had no follow up with anyone for this appointment as my doctor didn't know what it meant. He did refer me thought to heptology. I waited almost 5 months for the appointment and in that time made big changes and lost 2 stone. The appointment was last week and I thought I was going to get seeing a consultant, but I was just given another fibroscan. To my absolute shock it was 3.7kpa and a cap of 203. The nurse said it was accurate and must have been the weightloss.

I was delighted but I can't help but think back to some of the posts on here about fibroscan only being an indicator of inflammation and and so now I'm wondering if this is all it is? I asked the nurse if I still had fibrosis and she wasn't able to say. She also couldn't say if I had fatty liver still, but just said to enjoy the results and stay on track. I can't help but worry it's still fibrotic. I don't see how it would have regressed so much it in that time, even though I really want it to be true.

[MINTVCX]

The best to see your hepatologist with all your sofar tests. Maybe it is a good idea to do LFT? Also if NALFD is suspected Fib-4?

[pushthrough]

The liver is very good at repairing itself. From my understanding someone can donate part of their liver and it grows back in a matter of months, not years. So if it can grow that fast I’m sure it can also repair itself that fast assuming you get rid of the cause of the damage which sounds like you did. The second scan is going to be more reliable on the current state of your liver.

[Dontworrydarling]

Thanks both for the reply. MINT I wasn't offered the chance to speak with a heptologist at the appointment. I thought I would be - but was taken in for a fibroscan with a nurse , and when that result was good, she said I did not need to see anyone else and would be referred back to my GP. At the time I was given the fibroscan of 11.7 back in May, my GP ran a full battery of liver bloods and they all came in within normal ranges. AST 24, ALT 17, GGT 11, albumin 36 , and plateletets 350 etc. She tested me for hepatitis etc and hemochromatosis too and all clear.

Since I never got to speak to any medic about the situation , or had any follow up, I could only assume from the results my high score was lifestyle related and so I set about making changes. My doctor was great at referring me for the ARFI and fibro scan in the first place, but sadly not so when it came to following up with me about what the results actually meant. My concerns remain now though , as to whether the fibrosis is gone or whether I had it at all. I would say that the evidence is saying that I did/do though, since an ARFI ultrasound scan also scored me at F2 and said they could see underlying fibrotic changes. I feel a bit in the dark. No one ever said I had fibrosis , i read it from my notes. I have also now been discharged from heptology without seeing a heptologist so don't know what it means for me going forward. Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do to get more info? I feel somewhat anxious now to be 'let go' so to speak without ever knowing if I'm actually living with something that I need to have monitored regularly.

[Dontworrydarling]

Does anyone else know how I could ensure that I'm still monitored going forward? Has anyone on here experienced such a drop on their scores after being told they had F2 and had it confirmed that the fibrosis was gone?

[BritishLiverTrust8 Moderator British Liver Trust]

Dear Dontworrydarling

If you [are in the UK and] would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

Best wishes

British Liver Trust

[Confused2024 in reply to BritishLiverTrust8]

BritishLiverTrust8 I would love to call but am not in the UK - also though I do not mind paying the long distance charge...is there a fee for this call other than long distance if it pertains? I have a fibroscan of 9.0 kPa as of Nov 1st 2023 and it was 11.8 kPa in July - one week after I stopped drinking...I do have ascites which was drained once and is controlled with diuretics - waiting to see the hepatologist. I don;t know how I can have cirrhosis with a liver stiffness of 9.0 kPa and 1.73 m/s? My ultrasounds were showing a nodular contour but the last one in Oct 23 did not say anything about a nodular contour nor did the elastology (fibroscan)?

[BritishLiverTrust1 Partner British Liver Trust]

Dear Confused2024

Whilst anyone is able to phone our nurse-led helpline, the advice given is based on UK NHS, NICE and government information. This may be of limited help to anyone living and receiving care in another country where systems and treatment options vary.

We suggest talking this through again with your own GP in the first instance whilst you are waiting to see a hepatologist.

Best wishes

British Liver Trust