Cirrhosis Screening with a Portable Fibroscan Device in a Community Alcohol Support Service: Feasibility Study

Abstract

Alcohol misuse is the major cause of the increase in deaths from liver disease in the UK,1 particularly in Scotland2 and particularly in areas of social deprivation. Liver disease usually presents late, with advanced liver disease and cirrhosis often asymptomatic.3 Patients with alcohol misuse in areas of social deprivation are a hard to reach- population. This study assessed the feasibility of using a portable Fibroscan to measure transient elastography (TE), a non-invasive method of assessing hepatic fibrosis, as a screening tool within a community alcohol support service.