FibroScan Discordance With Liver Biopsy Significantly Overestimates Advanced Fibrosis and Cirrhosis in MASLD Subjects With Class 3 Obesity: Implications for Resmetirom Eligibility

• Published in: Journal of clinical gastroenterology
• Main Authors: Velji-Ibrahim, Jena, Woodard, Jordan, Alden, Jay, Abrams, Gary A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 10.01.2025
• ISSN: 1539-2031
• DOI: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000002132

To investigate the effect of obesity on the stages of fibrosis discordance between FibroScan and liver biopsy. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Accurate fibrosis assessment is essential in MASLD patients for prognosis and treatment. Vibration-controlled transient elastography using FibroScan can overestimate liver fibrosis in obese patients. This retrospective study included 245 MASLD patients who underwent FibroScan and liver biopsy. Participants were included with FibroScan controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) 250+, 10 liver stiffness measurements (LSM) with IQR/med ≤30%, and 10+ portal tracts on biopsy. Discordance was defined as a ≥2 stage difference between FibroScan and liver biopsy. Participants were stratified by BMI and obesity class to assess their association with discordance. We conducted a post hoc analysis to determine the implication of discordance on resmetirom eligibility. Data was entered into SPSS v28. Among 245 patients, 29.4% exhibited a ≥2 stage discordance between FibroScan and biopsy. Class 3 obesity was significantly associated with discordance (38.6%) compared with class 2 obesity (24.6%) and class 0 to 1 obesity (18.4%). FibroScan suggested cirrhosis in 66 (57.9%) participants with class 3 obesity, however, liver biopsy confirmed cirrhosis in only 16 (24.2%) subjects and identified 28 (42.4%) subjects with stages 2 to 3 fibrosis, making them potentially eligible for resmetirom. FibroScan significantly overestimates advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in class 3 obesity. A second noninvasive test is warranted for accurate liver-directed therapeutic allocation and to minimize unnecessary biopsies in MASLD management.