My hepa doctor said that at the best side of the scale its around 90% accurate, buts it's a slippery scale. I wouldn't put 100% trust in it, useful for a guide I guess. And if its going down, you can assume you've been doing some healing.

I'm sure fibroscan is a useful tool but not infallible I had one a year pre treatment and scored 23 was told to get on a trial fast am now 6 months post treatment the research center gave me one on my final visit  they have a machine for a trial on how CAP reading affects prognosis ie steatosis  she had a lot of trouble readings all over the place used all three different probes must have taken about 50 readings in all values ranged from 12 to 45 eventually came up with a score of 21 that she was happy wwith the next week back at my hospital after being handed over to there care nurse offered me a scan on their machine she too said I was an awkward bugger to scan readings from 8.5 to 38 said wide range like that a bit unusual but came up with a final reading of 18.5 and was happy with tthat have been told that in a year to 18 months from now they will have a good idea of how much my liver has recovered 

A point to add is  search has been done on fibroscan esp why the cut off points are different dependant on the cause of cirrhosis  it seems the level of fatty liver is a factor and a high CAP reading leads to an overestimation of about 10 kpa which is hhuge also if your alt is over 100 indicating a lot of inflammation this equates to an overestimation of about 2kpa

my alt was over 250  now is in normal range so looks like so far liver is in better shape but not much reduction in cirrhosis but I feel ten times better which is what counts 

what I am saying is fibroscan is not yet an exact science much depends on the skill of the operator but It is still a usefull tool especially at readings up to and including cirrhosis onset 

my opinion anyway

-- Edited by Marktq1 on Friday 17th of July 2015 11:20:58 AM

Never had a fscan, but after 2 months Harvoni tx you probably are seeing some improvement, if your AST and ALT have come way down your inflamation has reduced(depending how high it was) and that in itself is gonna give you some relief, you very well may have had some higher portal pressure, but one thing I noticed was the spleen shrank some which gave me what felt like more room in the diaphragm area.

Good luck.

I've begun to wonder a lot about the accuracy of fibroscans lately. I am noticing now after 2 months of treatment with Harvoni (being undetected at 4 weeks) that much of the hardness and inflammation that has plagued/ravaged my body constantly over the last 19 years has lessened dramatically...especially since the last few days. I am beginning to think my liver was blocked and created back pressure everywhere (probably an over simplified explanation). I don't know how to palpitate my liver but when I would dig in under my ribs after a big breath and exhaling I could feel something hard stick out... but have not been able to do so now since trying yesterday.
So I wonder...has perhaps this inflamed and pressurized liver of mine also relaxed some...and if so wouldn't it be softer and lessen the sound rebound used to determine the fibroscan score? Is it possible that a high fibroscan score is more of a result of not fibrosis but inflammation from the virus itself that resolves some upon successful treatment? I know my obliques and abdominal area up in the diaphragm were constantly swollen as evident to the touch and eye (not to mention the pain) and no longer are. Does this type of thing happen within the liver as well?

My point being...maybe the fibroscan score really doesn't mean as much as some would like us to believe.

I have had two fibroscan's.   At each visit they took several images, and each image result was different. ( 15 to 25  images to get a number to put on my chart)       It was from 37 to  21.  The  37 was at start  of treatment  and the 21 was after 16 weeks.   So clearing the virus seems to help .     It's like pitching hores shoes, it gets you in there close and sometimes you get a ringer!!     R.C.

I came home and read all the posts about Fibroscan readings and how SVR can decrease them and it did make me feel better. I went to the gym tonight and have made a vow to start eating a clean diet and do as much as I can to stay healthy. I'm fortunate that there are such great treatments out there And I should be grateful I have options.

... I'm choosing happy!!!!

And will try my very best to not worry too too much... Lol ... and keep reading about all these awesome SVRs we are getting now.

Hi Gracie,

Studies of the subject often show that happiness promotes healing. As Mallani says, "Why get worried". You are on your way to wellness and happy thoughts will help you get there.

Breathe, smile, feel grateful for this moment, you are on your way!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21983400

Take care,

Rudi

Hi Gracie,

Be careful having a 'peek' . Remember at least 10 readings should be done and averaged.

The F4 (cirrhosis) definition is now taken as >12.5 kPa. Earlier reports gave a range of 12.5-14.5.

Wait to your doctor gives you the results before you get too worried. In fact, why get worried? The SVR rate for cirrhotics is now just as good. Cheers.

I've read a couple of posts on fibroscan scoring and am very pleased to hear that it can improve past treatment.

I had one today and I tried to sneak a look and thought it said 15.5 kPa Which I think is quite high and now I'm worried.

I have read conflicting scores that indicate cirrhosis. 12.5, 14.7 and 17.5. So my question is do I have cirrhosis for sure? I have felt sicker since I thought I read that number and worried so wanted to hopefully hear something positive.

L ooks like I may be boarding the train sooner than I thought....