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What factors can lead to falsely elevated fibrosis readings on FibroScan (e.g., consuming sugar before the scan)?

3 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Hepatology · Northwestern Memorial Hospital

I recommend 3 hours of fasting before performing a FibroScan. Liver stiffness may not be equivalent to fibrosis stages in the following conditions: liver congestion (right-sided heart failure, Fontan-associated liver disease), active liver inflammation (alcohol, active viral or autoimmune hepatitis)...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Hepatology · Mount Sinai Hospital

Sugar is not the problem. When you eat something fatty it causes a lot more blood to flow to the liver to increase the bile flow. The influx of blood causes the liver to appear stiffer causing an increase in kPa.

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Hepatology · Northwestern

Any food within 3 hours aside from sips of water can falsely elevate liver stiffness. Food consumption prior can sometimes lead to very falsely elevated stiffness levels so always best to repeat when fasting.

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