Significant Within-Individual Variability in VCTE Liver Stiffness Measurements at Two Intercostal Spaces in Subjects with MASLD: Implications for Evaluating Improvement in Liver Fibrosis After Weight-Loss or Liver-Directed Therapy.

Introduction: Studies have compared the group-averages of liver stiffness measures (LSMs) from multiple rib spaces by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) to stage liver fibrosis. No previous study has assessed within-individual liver stiffness variation from two rib spaces in individuals with metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Methods: We evaluated within-individual LSM variation according to body weight classification and its clinical implication.

VCTE Overestimates Liver Fibrosis due to Abdominal-Truncal Adiposity and Not Hepatic Steatosis: A Case Report.

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is used for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis. We present a case of significant weight loss over 1 year, resulting in a marked improvement in liver stiffness suggesting a decrease in liver fibrosis from stage 4 (cirrhosis) to stage 2 (moderate fibrosis) notably without a change in the grade of hepatic steatosis. The improvement in two stages of fibrosis over this short time frame is due to the overestimation of liver stiffness in a subject with class 3 obesity and not due to the resolution of fibrosis.