Fibroscan Fluctuations

[TeaBag83]

Hi all

In September 2023 I had a Fibroscan because my GP was worried I drank too much. I drank 2 pints of beer every day after work, rarely having a day off. I'd done this for about 10-15 years. Rarely drank more than this in one sitting apart from a few occasions in my twenties! I don't like the feeling of being sozzled!

My Fibroscan result was 10.3 kpa so I was very worried and stopped drinking altogether (although the nurse who did the scan just told be cut down and have days off).

I also had an ultrasound to measure the amount of fat in the liver and I was told it was fatty but wasn't given a number.

I went to one of the Liver Trust Road Shows in London in July 2024 and had another fibroscan. It had come down to 5.5kpa so I was absolutely delighted! I also asked for the cap score and she said it was 183 and that it was a good score and within the healthy zone. I was over the moon!

I asked the nurse if would have to remain abstinent forever or whether I could drink moderately i.e. less that 14 units with days off etc. She said that moderate drinking would be unlikely to cause any damage and she advised keeping units to about 7 or 8 week. Despite this, I was still very cautious and have only had 2 glasses of wine and 1 pint of beer since this scan at the roadshow.

I had another Fibroscan yesterday (12 month follow up after the initial scan) and I am horrified to be told I'm now 7.1kpa! The nurse said this is still a normal score so my case is going to be closed. I understand that 7.1kpa is still in the normal zone but what I'm worried about is why it has gone up by so much (especially in a matter of 7 weeks!)

Could it be the 3 drinks that I've had? I certainly don't intend to drink anymore after this!

If it goes up the same amount again then I am suddenly not in the normal zone anymore. Are the Roadshow machines as accurate as the ones in hospitals? What could have caused this increase and should I worry?

[NieceByMarriage]

Sorry you are worrying about this. I don't know about the accuracy of the Fibroscan machines but there is always going to be a certain element of which particular machine is being operated by which particular person and which area of your liver they happen to take the test numbers from. My instinct is that a normal reading is a normal reading and you probably should not worry too much about the precise figures. I know that is hard to do, mind, as I fixate on numbers too. I doubt the amount of alcohol you have had would have made a drastic difference, although I am no expert. But remember that other things can work the liver, too. Pretty much everything does to some degree or another but particular culprits are things like prescription medicines, refined sugar and heavily processed food in general.

[BillCh]

From what I can gather, the fluctuations on fibroscans are part and parcel of the game. The difference is minor and could be down to a number of things including the operator, the machine, whether you had an empty stomach, which part they are getting a reading from, your weight levels (Fibroscans are notorious for not being reliable if you are a bit comfortably upholstered like myself). I don’t think you have much to worry about here.

[Smegmer]

Are you on any medications ? The Fibroscan measures Liver stiffness which is then interpreted as a possible scarring level. 7.1kpa is ok. Also inflammtion can make the result stiffer than it really is, did you get bloods done too ?

There was a person years ago I read that had a score of 20kpa and thought they had cirrhosis, it turned out they had some condition (cant remember its name) and it skewed the scan, they were actually fine.

2 pints of beer is very tame, most I know drink 20 - 30 pints a week without issues.

[SymbolUK]

I can attest to the inaccuracy of FibroScan, my was 70.9 kpa (done at GP, visiting project) in May that kicked off a barrage of tests including biopsy that showed no cirrhosis. Repeat FibroScan that i pushed for last week showed kpa of 6.4.

I’m not annoyed though, gave me the kick I needed to change lifestyle, no more alcohol, healthy eating and excercise and 2st weight loss so far.

I’ve been drinking regularly and far too much for nearly 40 years.

It also made be address my relationship with alcohol, how embedded it was into my life.

I’m enjoying the new me.

I wouldn’t worry too much with those scores.

[Chris9686]

Hello. Your scores are fine. Just be careful as around 12.7 is cirrosis. That what I was told be my liver nurse anyway. Very very confusing when everyone seems to say different things. Not good what so ever to be confused.

[Smegmer in reply to Chris9686]

You need to check the Fibroscan score card. Different causes of Liver damage give different stiffness cut offs for scarring. Damage by Alcohol is 19kpa to be considered F4. Fatty Liver Disease is 12.7kpa