The liver test that’s important to have before it’s too late

This past year, Hillel Yaffe Medical center began performing ultrasounds of the liver - or FibroScan, as it is known professionally. The scan is done at Internal Medicine B’s Liver Clinic, managed by Dr. Sayaf Abu-Moch, a specialist in internal medicine and liver medicine.

“Chronic liver disease can be caused by a fatty liver, excessive consumption of alcohol, the hepatitis B and C viruses, medications and more,” said Dr. Abu-Moch. “In chronic liver disease patients, over the years healthy liver tissue turns in to scar tissue that doesn’t function, and this leads to the development of liver cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver loses its flexibility and becomes stiff. The more scarring in your liver, the poorer it functions. Therefore, one of the important things is to determine the level of scarring. This can be done through a liver biopsy - an invasive test. But there is currently an alternative, the FibroScan, an ultrasound of the liver, which as previously mentioned, is noninvasive and is as precise as a biopsy, just without the physical pain involved in having a biopsy.”

During the FibroScan test, the amount of fatty liver is checked, and an assessment of the severity is done. One of the known problems with fatty liver is that you do not feel the symptoms, and as already mentioned, when liver scarring is extensive, liver cirrhosis develops and the patient may get to a point where they need transplant surgery or even die.

Dr. Sayaf Abu-Moch performing a FibroScan test at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center

Who is the test intended for?

The test is intended for anyone who has a known liver disease, but also for people who are obese and patients with diabetes. The last two are known for cumulative damage to the liver, which will not necessarily be felt unless the disease is advanced.

“Approximately 75% of patients with diabetes will have a fatty liver,” noted Dr. Abu-Moch, “liver function tests won't necessarily reveal disease, and the symptoms are not felt. Therefore, it's very important to go to the doctor if you don't feel well.”

Today, FibroScan is only part of the health services basket (HMO payment authorization form) for liver patients with hepatitis C. Despite this, it is recommended for patients with hepatitis B, autoimmune disease of the liver, fatty liver, and also for diabetes patients and people who are obese. At Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, the test can be done for a fee.

For more information and to schedule an appointment: 04-7744414.