Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Assessment

    Liver Fibrosis

    Liver fibrosis is the scarring process that represents the liver’s response to injury or disease. All chronic liver disease (CLD) can lead to liver fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. Liver cancer is the third cancer killer in Hong Kong, accounting for 1600 deaths in 2015.

    Liver cirrhosis will lead to gradually decline of liver function. Early detection of fatty liver is a way of protection. People who have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, including high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, high Low-density lipoprotein, high glucose level and central obesity should have regular liver function check-up.

    Cause of Liver Fibrosis⁴´⁵

    • Viral hepatitis B and C infections
    • Fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]) associated with obesity⁶
    • Alcohol abuse
    • Certain drugs if taken in large amount
    • Prolong exposure to certain environmental toxins
    • Inherited conditions or other diseases e.g. metabolic disease, blockage of the bile ducts

    Who needs liver blood test?

    • Long term alcoholicsm, stay up late or irregular diet habit
    • People who suffered from metabolic syndrome (including: high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia, high level of low density lipoprotein , high glucose level, and central obesity)
    • People who have been diagnosed with NAFLD to test for advanced liver fibrosis (ELF Score Test)
    • People with ELF Test Score below 10.51 need regular liver check-up
    • People with regular practice on medicine intake (western and Chinese medicine) or health care supplements

    Fatty Liver

    Fatty liver, or hepatic steatosis, is a term that describes the buildup of fat in the liver. Early stage fatty liver is diagnosed when the proportion of liver cells that contain fat is more than 5 percent. Fatty liver Disease (FLD) can be classified as alcoholic FLD and nonalcoholic FLD (NAFLD). Since there are nearly no neuron in liver, FLD usually causes no signs and symptoms, so it is easily be ignored.

    Approximately 30% of Hong Kong adults suffered from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).  NAFLD can turn into simply fatty liver, but 5-20% of them will develop into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with 10-20% of them undergo liver fibrosis.

    FibroTouch non-invasive liver fibrosis diagnostic

    • Image-guided non-invasive liver fibrosis diagnostic system
    • Speedy with no pain
    • Early treatment with early recovery of chronic liver disease

    “Tips on liver care”

    Instead of taking supplement to protect liver, it will be much better to look into your food choices and eating habits:

    • Alcohol is damaging to liver. Avoid alcohol to reduce risks of fatty liver, liver cirrhosis and cancer.
    • Reduce intake of processed, smoked or burnt food.
    • Reduce high fat and high sugary food as these will be converted to fat and stored in liver, thus increasing risk of fatty liver.
    • Animal intestines are not advisable as they may contain remains of toxins from feeds.
    • Choose foods that contain antioxidants such as vegetables, fruits, fish and nuts that contain vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acid. Tea and coffee also contain antioxidants that are good to liver.
    • In all, the best you can do to protect your liver is to maintain a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables and have enough rest.

    檢查部份
    Investigation    		檢查項目
    Test Items    		ELF1 + COM

    肝纖維化
    Liver Fibrosis    		肝纖維化指數評估
    ELF Score    		✓
    玻尿酸
    Hyaluronic Acid(HA)
    		✓
    第三型前膠原N端
    Amino-terminal Propeptide Type III Procollagen (PIIINP)    		✓
    組織基質金屬蛋白酶抑制劑
    Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1)
    		✓
    原價 (HK$):
    List Price (HK$):    		1,800
    優惠價 (HK$):
    Privilege Price (HK$):    		1,200

    Sources：

    1. Fibrotouch n.d., 無創全肝臟健康診斷系統, brochure, Fibrotouch
    2. RTHK 2018,自在八點半：自在8點半-健康 (第十集), online video, 6 June, viewed 7 August 2018, viewed 7 August 2018, http://podcasts.rthk.hk/podcast/item_epi.php?pid=1379&lang=zh-CN&id=114469
    3. 黃子群 , 2017, 醫 for Early 香港27%人脂肪肝 及早發現可逆轉, Metro Daily, 20th November Viewed 7 August 2018 : http://www.metrodaily.hk/metro_news/醫-for-Early-香港27%人脂肪肝 及早發現可逆轉
    4. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostic, 2016. , Setting a New Standard in Liver Fibrosis Assessment, brochure, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostic, USA
    5. Department of Health, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 2018. Men’s Health Line – Cirrhosis of Liver. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.chp.gov.hk/tc/static/80032.html. [Accessed 7 August 2018].
    6. HK Headline. 2018. 高效消除脂肪肝. [ONLINE] Available at: http://hd.stheadline.com/life/living/20170516/137904 [Accessed 7 August 2018]. `
    7. 中大研究發現非酒精性脂肪肝誘發肝癌的關鍵致癌基因 | 香港中文大學傳訊及公共關係處. 2018. 中大研究發現非酒精性脂肪肝誘發肝癌的關鍵致癌基因 | 香港中文大學傳訊及公共關係處. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/tc/press_detail.php?id=2757&t=中大研究發現非酒精性脂肪肝誘發肝癌的關鍵致癌基因