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MASLD AI 04:12 PM
July 2025
In this insightful episode, Oyin Penny, NP with Premier Gastroenterology of Kansas City, addresses the complex clinical challenge of managing patients with MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) who also consume alcohol. Oyin shares practical, evidence-based strategies for screening alcohol use in MASLD and MASH, emphasizing the importance of creating a nonjudgmental, patient-centered environment. She outlines how to use tools like PEth (phosphatidylethanol) testing to objectively quantify alcohol intake and explains the synergistic hepatotoxicity that occurs when alcohol use coexists with metabolic liver disease. Oyin also explores when to initiate non-invasive tests (NITs), why alcohol can distort fibrosis staging, and how to time assessments and treatment appropriately. From setting SMART goals to recommending behavioral support, medications like naltrexone, and exploring mental health and social work interventions, this episode offers a full-spectrum approach to managing high-risk patients. Whether you're a GI, hepatology provider, or in primary care, this episode provides tools for personalized care, alcohol harm reduction, and effective long-term MASLD management.
Related Podcast
Pharmacotherapy Review
July 2025
Join Christina Hanson, FNP-C, from South Denver Gastroenterology, as she provides an in-depth overview of the current pharmacologic treatment landscape for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). This expert-led session explores the three cornerstones of MASH management—lifestyle and weight loss interventions, cardiovascular risk reduction, and liver-directed therapy—while highlighting the evolving role of GLP-1 receptor agonists and the recent FDA approval of resmetirom, the first medication indicated for adults with MASH and moderate to advanced fibrosis. Christina also discusses clinical trial data from MAESTRO-NASH, reviews historical agents like vitamin E and pioglitazone, and offers practical guidance on patient selection, safety considerations, and monitoring strategies. Whether you’re a GI provider, hepatology specialist, or primary care clinician managing fatty liver disease, this video provides valuable insights into how emerging therapies are shaping the future of MASH treatment.
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The Role of Exercise in Liver Health
July 2025
In this episode, Suzanne Robertazzi, DNP at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, discusses the vital role of exercise in liver health, especially for patients at risk of or living with MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH. With a background in liver transplant care, Suzanne emphasizes the importance of tailoring exercise recommendations to each patient’s abilities, goals, and environment. She outlines practical, empathetic strategies for setting realistic fitness goals, celebrating small milestones, and integrating physical activity with nutritional counseling and behavioral support. Whether it's walking, swimming, or group classes, Suzanne explores low-cost and community-based options for promoting long-term adherence. This episode also highlights the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach, including collaboration with physical therapists, mental health professionals, and dietitians. Packed with actionable insights, this conversation is essential for healthcare providers working to empower patients with fatty liver disease through sustainable lifestyle interventions.
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Podcast: Discordant NITs, the Gray Zone
June 2025
In this episode, Gabriella McCarty, NP at Northshore Gastroenterology in Cleveland, Ohio, shares her deep clinical insights on the evolving landscape of MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis). With over 26 years of experience in private practice, Gabriella explains that the majority of fatty liver cases she encounters are found incidentally—often during evaluations for unrelated GI issues like GERD or routine colon screenings. She discusses the updated nomenclature from NAFLD to MASLD and outlines the cardiometabolic risk factors that inform diagnosis, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Gabriella emphasizes the importance of non-invasive assessments like FibroScan, FIB-4, ELF testing, and, in select cases, liver biopsy or MR elastography for accurate fibrosis staging. She also highlights the challenges of discordant test results and shares practical strategies for follow-up and monitoring. With a strong focus on lifestyle modification—promoting a Mediterranean diet, targeted weight loss, regular exercise, and alcohol avoidance—this episode provides essential education for providers managing patients with fatty liver disease, even when it's not the primary reason for the visit.
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HCC Surveillance: Implementation in Patients with Advanced Fibrosis/Cirrhosis from MASH
July 2025
In this expert-led session, Elizabeth Alqueza, PA-C, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, discusses the critical importance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with steatotic liver disease, including MASLD and MASH. HCC is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and early detection is vital for improving survival outcomes. Using a real-world case study, Elizabeth highlights risk factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and advanced fibrosis—and underscores the growing role of MASH in HCC development, even in the absence of cirrhosis. She outlines best practices for staging, the importance of early referral to hepatology, and AASLD-recommended surveillance protocols using ultrasound and AFP testing every 6 months. The video also explores systemic barriers to screening and actionable strategies to improve adherence, such as EMR alerts, streamlined imaging protocols, and improved coordination between primary care and hepatology. This presentation is essential viewing for healthcare professionals managing patients with liver disease, offering practical tools to enhance HCC detection and optimize long-term outcomes.
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HCC Surveillance: Implementation in Patients With Advanced Fibrosis/Cirrhosis From MASH
July 2025
Learn when and how to effectively screen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk, especially those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this informative video, Maribeth Capuno, an adult nurse practitioner at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, shares her clinical approach to early HCC surveillance. While AASLD guidelines recommend screening only after cirrhosis has been diagnosed, Maribeth highlights the growing evidence that patients with stage 3 fibrosis can still develop liver cancer—and why she begins surveillance earlier. She discusses the recommended tools, including liver ultrasound every six months and alpha-fetoprotein testing, and explores practical workflow tips to ensure patients remain adherent. Learn how imaging modalities like MRI and CT with liver protocol, along with tools like LI-RADS and tumor board consultations, contribute to timely and accurate diagnosis. The video also emphasizes key risk factors—such as obesity, diabetes, viral hepatitis, and lifestyle behaviors—and how managing these can help prevent the progression to HCC.
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NITs: A Practical Overview: Navigating the Basics
July 2025
In this practical and engaging overview, Janet Gripshover, nurse practitioner and nurse manager for the Cedars-Sinai Liver Transplant Program, breaks down the essentials of non-invasive testing (NITs) for assessing fibrosis in patients with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). She explains the critical distinction between MASLD and MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis), highlighting why early identification of aggressive liver disease is essential—even in patients without cirrhosis. Janet reviews key NIT tools, including FibroScan, MR elastography, and serum biomarkers like FIB-4 and ELF score, providing clinical insights on interpreting results, integrating them into risk stratification, and tailoring next steps for patient care. Viewers will learn when to act on elevated liver stiffness, how to interpret CAP scores, and why weight loss and comorbidity control remain foundational treatments. Whether you're new to hepatology or seeking a refresher on navigating fibrosis assessments, this video offers a clear, actionable framework to help prevent disease progression and optimize outcomes for patients with fatty liver disease.
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Serological Workup: A Step-by-Step Guide
July 2025
In this comprehensive video, Sherona Bau, NP from UCLA, breaks down the essential hepatology workup for patients with MASLD (formerly NAFLD) and MASH, offering guidance for both primary care providers and GI/hepatology specialists. Drawing from her extensive clinical experience, she outlines a systematic approach to evaluating abnormal liver ultrasound findings—starting with critical labs to rule out chronic liver conditions like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, PBC, and hereditary hemochromatosis. Sherona discusses the importance of ordering ANA, AMA, ferritin, serologies, and even specialized labs like the phosphatidylethanol (PEth) test to uncover alcohol-related liver disease that may be overlooked. She emphasizes the need to screen for cardiometabolic risk factors including type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia and highlights non-invasive tests such as FibroScan and FIB-4 to help identify patients at risk of advanced fibrosis who may benefit from specialist referral. Most importantly, Sherona addresses the fears many patients face around liver disease progression and life expectancy, encouraging early intervention and coordinated care to improve long-term outcomes. This video is a must-watch for any clinician managing steatotic liver disease.
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Podcast: Pharmacotherapy for MASH/MASLD: An Overview
June 2025
In this comprehensive episode, Christina Hanson, FNP-C at South Denver GI, provides an in-depth overview of pharmacotherapy for MASLD and MASH, with a focus on the FDA-approved therapy resmetirom (brand name Rezdiffra). Drawing on over 18 years of experience in hepatology and GI care, Christina explains the histologic endpoints used in clinical trials—MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement without worsening disease—and how they guided the approval of resmetirom. She breaks down the drug’s mechanism of action as a selective thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR-β) agonist, which promotes lipid metabolism and reduces liver inflammation without systemic toxicity. Christina reviews key Phase 3 data from the MAESTRO-NASH trial, showing resmetirom’s significant impact on both MASH resolution and fibrosis regression across diverse patient populations. She also outlines criteria for appropriate patient selection (those with stage F2-F3 fibrosis), clinical monitoring strategies, and management of side effects like transient GI discomfort. Christina emphasizes the importance of baseline screening for liver disease, autoimmune conditions, thyroid function, and lipid levels before initiating therapy. She highlights best practices from the 2024 AASLD guidelines for ongoing monitoring and treatment response assessment, including ALT and liver stiffness thresholds that help determine whether to continue or discontinue therapy. This episode is a must-watch for hepatology clinicians looking to implement evidence-based, patient-centered strategies in the management of MASH.
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LFTs Demystified: A practical guide for APPs
July 2025
In this GHAPP MASLD Community Network podcast, Jessica Crimaldi, NP, from the Cleveland Clinic, provides practical, real-world insights into interpreting liver function tests (LFTs) in the context of MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH (steatohepatitis). Drawing on over a decade of experience in GI and hepatology, Jessica explains common ALT and AST elevation patterns that should prompt a diagnostic workup, even in asymptomatic patients. She reviews the hepatocellular vs. cholestatic patterns of injury, the value of the R-factor calculator in identifying the likely etiology of liver enzyme abnormalities, and how to differentiate MASH from other liver diseases such as PBC, viral hepatitis, or bile duct obstruction. The episode also addresses key non-liver labs like triglycerides, A1C, and cholesterol, and how they contribute to assessing metabolic risk. Finally, Jessica discusses the role of serial LFT monitoring in evaluating treatment response—highlighting what it means when liver enzyme levels fall and why "normal" LFTs don’t always indicate disease resolution. Whether you're a primary care provider or hepatology specialist, this podcast offers valuable guidance for early detection, risk stratification, and longitudinal monitoring of patients with MASH.
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NITs: A Practical Overview: Navigating the Basics
July 2025
In this episode, Christie Morrison breaks down the fundamentals of non-invasive testing (NITs) for evaluating patients with fatty liver disease, including MASLD and MASH. She explains the key differences between steatosis (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH), highlighting how non-invasive tests can replace liver biopsy for staging fibrosis. Christy reviews common tools like FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score, Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score, transient elastography (FibroScan), and MR elastography, and outlines how to choose the right test based on patient factors such as co-morbidities, geography, access to labs, and imaging availability. The episode also emphasizes the importance of fibrosis risk stratification, interpreting FIB-4 cutoffs, and monitoring liver stiffness or ELF scores after initiating lifestyle or pharmacologic treatment—including newer therapies like resmetirom. This is a must-watch for APPs, GI clinicians, and primary care providers seeking to improve care pathways and outcomes in patients with metabolic liver disease through practical, accessible strategies for fibrosis detection and management.
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