From the Research
For monitoring non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), FibroScan should typically be performed every 1-2 years in patients with significant fibrosis (F2 or higher) and every 2-3 years in those with minimal fibrosis (F0-F1), as supported by the most recent study 1. The frequency of FibroScan monitoring may increase to every 6-12 months for patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis (F3-F4) due to their higher risk of disease progression and liver-related mortality 2. Key factors to consider when determining the monitoring schedule include:
- Individual risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or elevated liver enzymes
- Disease severity, with more frequent monitoring for patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis
- Response to lifestyle modifications or treatment for NAFLD, with more frequent monitoring (every 6-12 months) to assess treatment efficacy 3 FibroScan is a valuable tool for monitoring NAFLD, as it non-invasively measures liver stiffness and quantifies steatosis through controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measurement, allowing clinicians to track disease progression or regression without repeated invasive liver biopsies 4. The monitoring schedule should always be personalized by a hepatologist or gastroenterologist based on the patient's specific clinical situation, disease severity, and response to interventions 5.