Fib-4

[Rigenie3]

Hi Wayne, I hope this finds you doing well. You are such a champion for this cause. You helped alleviate any concerns a few years ago, so I am writing today to ask if Fib-4 is still a viable predictor? I score well below 1, but with all of the recent research, wanted to make sure it was still relevant.

[nash2 Partner]

How nice to hear from you. Fib-4 is like any test in that it has strengths and weakness. Fib-4 was developed a long time ago because it made use of the standard tests that most people had available and it isn't the best we can do but it does provide some useful guidance. New tests are coming out and I personally have started to use the Fibronostics test described here.

fattyliverfoundation.org/li...

Wayne

[Rigenie3 in reply to nash2]

Thank you. Could you elaborate on the strengths and weaknesses? Would a .08 still be considered low probability?

[Rigenie3 in reply to Rigenie3]

It seems as though many of the medical professionals still rely on it?

journals.lww.com/ajg/fullte...

[nash2 Partner in reply to Rigenie3]

There has been a movement to get docs to use Fib-4 so we see it far more often than we used to. To answer your question, 0.08 indicates a high probability that you do NOT have fibrosis. As with all of these things it is a probability not an actual measurement. That is an encouraging number and I wish mine was that low. The thing to keep in mind is that it speaks to fibrosis and not the range of illnesses that can affect a liver so it is part of the analysis. The newer tests, like LIVERFASt, also provide information about inflammation and fat content which can also be important concerns. This is the evolution of our ability to get better information.

[Rigenie3 in reply to nash2]

Thank you so much, Wayne! Hopefully Intercept will get re-aligned with the FDA. I obviously meant to say my Fib-4 was .80. There doesn’t seem to be much disagreement on the fibrosis benefit. Prayers said.

[Anon11111 in reply to nash2]

Out of curiosity, would you say your Fib-4 result corresponds to your Fibronostics score?

[nash2 Partner in reply to Anon11111]

Generally, but one of the weaknesses of Fib 4 is that it includes age and I'm 80 so it has more value for younger people.