Methodist Health System consists of nine hospitals and over one hundred clinics that serve 7% to 10% of patients in the Dallas metropolitan. In November 2021, adopted the use of ELF tests in patients who had risk factors for NAFLD/NASH based on abnormal liver enzymes, metabolic risk factors, and evidence of hepatosteatosis on imaging. There is a knowledge gap in the literature when it comes to ELF scores in our population and the data we collect in this study will contribute to filling that knowledge gap.
Historically, assessment of fibrosis has been accomplished with FibroScan,elastography or liver biopsy. However, these tests are not widely available in most clinics, and can be invasive and costly. At present, the two primary inexpensive and non-invasive alternatives are the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and ELF scores, which employ algorithms that utilize routine lab draws. While a low FIB-4 score has a negative predictive value of 90% for advanced fibrosis, it does not provide a risk assessment of liver-related events. For this reason, the study explore the newer ELF serum test as a non-invasive, more affordable and available means to detect patients with developing fibrosis and as a predictor of liver-related outcomes that could be easily used in a primary care setting. This will better risk-stratify this patient population at the primary care level, without need for invasive and expensive testing, and will guide appropriate referrals to Hepatology.
