Can Cirrhosis be detected through an ultrascan???????

[tmangeles]

I was diagnosed with grade 3 fibrosis in 2000 by biopsy..I had a swollen spleen...I have had various tests done since then,but not another biopsy..My blood test are good(ast-33,alt-50)My ultra sound shows a little parenchymal cell change with mild corase but not bad..No dialation of the intra and extra hepatic bile ducts..I went through the interferon/riba for 12 months in 2000 and 2001 with no success..But my liver function tests are normal now...My last VL was 890,000....when i was first diagnosed They were all over the board wiht a high VL...Could it be possible my fibrosis has been downgraded?can i tell by the ultra sound?

[NYgirl]

It's highly unlikely at all that a lower VL means less fibrosis.  Fibrosis is scar tissue and while hopefully you aren't making MORE of it right now - it wouldn't get rid of what is already there.

I don't think an ultrasound could possibly see these things = the ultrasound looks for physical anomalies like tumors.  The BIOPSY is what looks at the TISSUE inside the liver to see what damage has been done.

[FlGuy]

Fibrosure and Fibrospect are blood tests.  Fibroscan is a machine.  Fibrosscan is still in study.  There are a few in the country.  I called Univ of Miami (they have one) and asked if I could have a scan to see if tx improved the liver. They would see me in the context of the study only, since I did not qualify for the study (last bx greater than 6 months)I could not be fibroscaned.

[FlGuy]

Here is where spect/osure are explained a little more.
http://janis7hepc.com/learning_about_liver_fibrosis2.htm

[GoofyDad]

As noted, US can detect liver texture. As cirrhosis the liver firms and eventually hardens. Thus, US can shed some light on the state of the cirrhotic liver. I had an US report that indicated fatty liver. Subsequent bx showed minimal fatty changes, but beginning cirhossis. Hepo said that US can't distinguish between fatty liver and advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis and US report should not have diagnosed fatty liver. Last US at end of treatment didn't mention anything about liver texture/fatty liver -- so I'm hoping maybe there has been some impovement.

[LvdByGod]

hello, sorry to hear about your past tx. if i were in your shoes i would repeat a biopsy every 3 yrs.  you were stage 3 with an enlarged spleen. an enlarged spleen means the blood is not flowing as it should and it indicates portal hyper tension. so you definately need to keep an eye on your liver at this point. please don't give up!

i agree that a low viral load does not mean low damage and that an ultra sound is not the way to check for cellular changes in the liver... it is what is used for checking for HCC liver cancer, lesions and texture... so it should be done every six months to check for cancer...esp if your alph feta protein is higher. but, only a biopsy can help you keep an eye on your liver...  biopsies should be done every 3 yrs for watching and waiting for future/better tx...

if i were you at your stage i would try the treatment again... or try the new infergen tx for non responders. there are folks here who HAVE cleared on there 2nd or 3rd try at tx...

you could have had some liver benefit from the tx but once your off of it, it can progress again... i am a stage 3-4, with enlarged spleen too and the problem is that with our stage disease the liver WILL keep progressing, well unless there is a divine entervention that is... so we must keep fighting...

i'm praying for your strength in that fight,welcome here this is a great support site!

sandi

[LvdByGod]

sorry an added thought here...

the ultra sound can also be used to check for the size of the liver... sometimes in cirhosis our livers can shrink. the other thing i remembered is that in advanced cirhosis our liver numbers (alt/ast) can actually show normal again, as the liver stops working, so clearly this is not the way to see if we are progressing or not...

you may find out in the biopsy that your liver is holding steady for now... everyone is different as to how fast there disease will progress... you could be fine for a long time and the biopsy could actually give you some good news! i pray that is the case for you!!!

[fishdoc]

I am going to see the new dr next week, but I asked my gastro about fibroscan.... he said that was only to detect cirrhosis...

can anyone give us a quick lowdown on "fibrosure" and "fibroscan"?  Since I have not had a biopsy for 7 years, I thought this might be way to assess progression.......but Dr. really didn't seem toknow what I was talking about... and neither do I... assuming they won't biopsy while on treatment?

[LvdByGod]

how are ya Ina? i have been taking a "liver break" for months now... i was really getting livered out!!! lol ...liver this and liver that...

been coming here for 3 yrs and needed some time off from thinkin about livers...ha!

Cutie's been keepin us posted on your wonderful results... i'm praying for your continued CLEAR PCR'S!!! i'm soooo encredibly encouraged by your last clear pcr... that is soooo exciting! after all you've been through that is such great news! it certainly gives me some hope that after a breakthrough you CAN clear...although i know you are not 100% sure you actually had a breakthrough... sooooo ???

i'm due to go in this week for that first post tx pcr... i'm scared to death... but i'm also at peace that it is in the Lords hands... so whatever He okays i can deal with...i know i'm not giving up!

i will be sure to post my results here to update any interested folks... i guess if i get the pcr this week i will know how it is two weeks from now....

after 2 1/2 yrs straight of tx this is where the rubber meets the road finally!!!

S C A R E Y !!! Y I K E S !!!

[Forseegood]

me too...

[GoofyDad]

Thanks. Nice to have you in my corner. Seriously.

[can-do-man]

You know i'm with ya on the improvement. From one 4 to another.