Identifying & Diagnosing MASH Patients with Non-Invasive Tests

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MASLD AI 08:20 PM

At March 13, 2025

In this informative session, Lisa Richards, NP, a hepatology expert from UC San Diego Healthcare, explores how non-invasive tests (NITs) can effectively diagnose metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and fibrosis without the need for a liver biopsy. She discusses the role of imaging and blood-based biomarkers, such as FibroScan, MRE, ELF, and FIB-4, in identifying patients with stage 2 or higher liver fibrosis and highlights their clinical applications in real-world settings.

Lisa walks through a detailed case study, demonstrating how to interpret non-invasive test results, assess risk stratification, and make confident diagnostic decisions using combined NITs like FAST, MEFIB, and MAST scores. She also addresses key limitations of FibroScan and MRI elastography, including BMI constraints, insurance coverage challenges, and patient-specific factors like claustrophobia.

Additionally, Lisa introduces clinical care pathways from leading hepatology organizations, explaining how primary care providers and specialists can collaborate to monitor and manage at-risk MASH patients. She emphasizes that, with modern non-invasive tools, biopsies are no longer necessary for diagnosing most MASH patients, enabling earlier intervention and improved patient outcomes.

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