Echosens, a high-technology company offering the FibroScan family of products, urges increased awareness about the growing issue of fatty liver diseases, both from alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is related to a build-up of extra fat in liver cells caused by lifestyle and dietary choices. Together, NAFLD and ARLD are among the most frequent causes of chronic liver disease in the United States and together represent the leading indications for liver transplant.
“Given that an estimated 95,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, it’s important to play a part in educating friends and family about the dangers of alcohol consumption on the liver and overall health,” says Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation. “Clinically, patients with ARLD can be asymptomatic or present with acute severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) with and without cirrhosis. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form of NAFLD as shown in individuals with elevated liver enzymes but without a history of alcohol consumption.”
Systematic screening for liver fibrosis in heavy-drinking patients is a challenge, but a recent study showed promising results from FibroScan, a non-invasive technology that quickly provides a quantitative assessment of liver stiffness and liver fat at the point of care.
Researchers used FibroScan for non-invasive diagnosis of asymptomatic liver fibrosis in alcohol abuse patients to determine diagnostic liver stiffness cut-off values and to compare performance of FibroScan with seven non-invasive laboratory tests. They concluded that FibroScan is effective for assessing liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients and that instant screening of liver fibrosis in heavy drinkers is feasible without liver biopsy.
Jon Gingrich, CEO, Echosens North America, states, “FibroScan makes it possible to quickly and non-invasively halt liver disease in its earliest stages. This April, we hope more people make their liver health a priority by limiting alcohol consumption, encouraging friends and family to discuss alcohol abuse and supporting healthcare professionals who work with patients with a history of alcohol abuse.”
About Echosens
Echosens, the developer of FibroScan®, is an innovative high-technology company offering a full range of products and services supporting physicians in their assessment and management of patients with chronic liver diseases. FibroScan is supported by over 2,500 peer-reviewed publications and examinations are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many insurance plans. For more information, please visit https://www.echosens.com/.
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