FibroScan-Reproducibility and Repeatability Study

Brief Summary

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a serious health issue worldwide, often progressing without symptoms until advanced stages with risks of complications like liver cancer and cirrhosis. Early detection is crucial to help prevent these outcomes. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) can detect fibrosis (scarring) in the liver, a common issue in CLD patients while traditional methods like liver biopsy are invasive and not ideal for regular screening and monitoring. FibroScan, a non-invasive device, measures the liver stiffness and fat content in the liver. This study will assess how reliable and consistent FibroScan results are when used by different operators and across different days, focusing on patients with liver conditions like metabolic-related liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and hepatitis B. This research also aims to test both the standard and Guided VCTE (Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography) FibroScan generations to evaluate their reproducibility and repeatability. As secondary objectives the Control Attenuation Parameter (CAP) results, and the FAST, Agile 3+, and Agile 4 scores will be evaluated to compare their reproducibility and repeatability. Adult participants will attend two visits within three days. During these visits, they will undergo multiple FibroScan scans that include five scans on Day 1 (visit 1) and four scans on the follow up visit (visit 2), one blood sample for liver health assessment on each visit, and an AUDIT questionnaire on Day 1 (visit 1). Some participants may undergo only two scans on the follow-up visit since this will depend on operator availability. Each session will last 25-45 minutes including all examination types. The study is funded by Echosens, the manufacturer of FibroScan, and will be conducted at UK healthcare facilities in England. By evaluating the variability of FibroScan results, this research could lead to a better understanding of the device's reproducibility and reliability in measuring liver stiffness across different operators and time points, potentially enhancing clinical confidence in its use for managing chronic liver diseases.