Elevated ELF but 'normal' Fibroscan pressure - how?

[_liver123_]

Hi All:

I'm a 50-something male with a fatty liver. Recently I was given an ELF test and it returned a result at the lowest end of the 'severe fibrosis' range. A follow-up Fibroscan gave a reading in the upper normal range for liver stiffness. How can the disparity be explained? Do I give more credence to the Fibroscan or to the ELF test?

Obviously I will discuss this with my specialist but I can't get an appointment for some time. I am concerned about severe fibrosis. I am working to reduce my weight and alcohol intake.

Just wondered if anyone could guide me with respect to these seemingly inconsistent results.

Thank you!

[MINTVCX]

No single test is conclusive. Any test can be false positive/negative which is normal.

About ELF test "Special precautions & notes: Only available to primary care. Only assayed if abnormal FIB-4 result."

"Ensure FIB-4 is calculated before requesting ELF"

[Iro1]

HiI have had the opposite issue, a high ELF score and a lower Fibro. As you know the ELF is a proprietary test, an algorithm based on 3 variables, I saw a presentation on this by a research consultant. A fib 4. which a GP could calculate is actually more accurate and a lot cheaper. The problem is that it requires AST as an additional input, the Department of Health actively disuade GPs from giving this test for 'cost cutting' measures. Ths reasoning being that ALT alone is enough.

I am sure if you write your GP a note he will oblge with a full panel of LFTs including AST and he can use a simple Fib4 calculator. This might add some clarification.

As a general point I know how easy it is to go down the rabbit hole of analysing results.

For me this became a displacement activity for dealing with the cause, diet and exercise.

I started on that and bought a body composition weighing machine. Apart from weight it has %body fat %muscle mass a measure of the amount of visceral fat.

You do not need to be a qualified doctor to realise that other things being equal a lower fat %, a higher muscle % and a lower visceral fat score = a less fatty liver, a less fatty liver = less stiff.

I also have a garmin watch for my ecercise.

I find these metrics inspire me to get better more than blood tests and fobros that in the padt often depress me.

I will be going back for my tests but only when bmi is below 30 and my visceral fat level is normal.

[Roy1955]

Those results sound very consistent to me!Both midrange and both indicate some damage.

Your words..

"I am working to reduce my weight and alcohol intake"

Exactly the same as mine and probably half the folks on here when we got the early warnings but we're in denial.

If you need to work towards quiting alcohol then it's a problem you need help with.

[_liver123_]

Managed to catch up with the consultant. He said the Fibro score completely overrides the ELF score and so, despite having a fatty liver, there is no fibrosis - yet. I will keep up with my new diet and exercise regime and hope for better numbers when we retest in 12 months. Thanks all for your thoughts.

[Jb0711]

that’s good to know. May I ask what your Fibroscan was?

[mozlaw]

i stopped booze and it lowered from 13.4 early cirrhosis possibly to 11.6 within 12 months i stll had lapsed a few times with alcohol with my daughters wedding .

[Sunshineboy2 in reply to mozlaw]

Them numbers was your ELF score or Fibroscan?

[mozlaw]

fibro scan