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August 2025
Join Maly Tiev, NP, NYU Langone Health, as she answers common questions from primary care providers about Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). Learn who should be screened based on AASLD and American Diabetes Association guidelines, including patients with obesity, pre-diabetes or diabetes, metabolic syndrome, persistent ALT elevation, or steatosis on imaging. Molly explains when to refer MASH patients to gastroenterology or hepatology—such as those with FIB-4 scores over 1.3, suspected advanced fibrosis, or unexplained liver enzyme elevations—and addresses the safety of prescribing statins in MASH. Backed by multiple studies, she emphasizes that statins do not increase liver injury risk and can significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality, the leading cause of death in this population. This session provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help clinicians improve MASH detection, optimize referrals, and manage cardiovascular risk safely.
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Common Questions from Community GI About MASH
July 2025
In this insightful video, Christie Morrison, a local advanced practice provider with the GHAPP MASLD/MASH Community Network, answers two of the most frequently asked questions from community GI providers: when to refer patients with MASH to a transplant center and how to evaluate liver fibrosis when FibroScan® isn’t accessible. Christy emphasizes the importance of using non-invasive testing (NITs)—including FIB-4 and ELF (Enhanced Liver Fibrosis) scores—to help identify patients with F3 fibrosis, who are at higher risk for rapid progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). She encourages early referral to transplant hepatology to avoid delays in care, especially given long wait times and the value of multidisciplinary support teams at transplant centers. For clinicians without access to FibroScan, Christy shares practical alternatives such as ordering reflex testing to ELF via major labs and leveraging easy-to-use digital tools like MDCalc for FIB-4 calculation. This episode is a valuable resource for GI providers looking to optimize liver care pathways and prevent late-stage complications in MASLD and MASH patients.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
August 2025
Join Sarah Dawkins, NP, for quick and practical insights in this edition of GHAPP MASLD Community Network’s APP Insights. Sarah answers common questions from primary care providers about managing patients with hepatic steatosis on imaging but normal liver tests. She explains when to calculate a FIB-4 score, how to interpret mild ALT/AST abnormalities, and when referral to hepatology is necessary. Learn how to assess risk in patients with diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome, and how to rule out other causes like viral hepatitis, alcohol use, drug-induced liver injury, and iron overload. Sarah emphasizes the importance of lifestyle counseling for low-risk patients and provides a clear framework for primary care providers to confidently monitor and manage MASLD without unnecessary referrals. A must-watch for anyone navigating the "gray zone" of liver diagnostics in everyday practice.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
August 2025
In this overview on the MASLD Community Network, Oyin Penny, FNP with Premier Gastroenterology, addresses some of the most frequent questions primary care providers have when caring for patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Learn when to screen patients for MASH, the key risk factors that should prompt evaluation, and when referral to gastroenterology or hepatology specialists is most appropriate. Oyin also explains how to monitor disease progression using non-invasive tests (NITs) such as FibroScan, MR elastography, and ELF tests. Whether you are a PCP managing patients with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or abnormal liver imaging, this video provides essential guidance to help you identify high-risk patients earlier and optimize their care. Stay tuned for more expert insights and practical education from the MASH Community Network.
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Common Questions From Patients About MASH
August 2025
In this engaging episode from the GHAPP MASLD Community Network, Alison Moe shares practical insights into the most common questions patients ask about advanced fibrosis and fatty liver disease. Using a liver model, she explains the stages from normal liver to steatosis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, emphasizing that with lifestyle modifications—such as weight loss, glycemic control, and now FDA-approved pharmacotherapy—fatty liver disease, including F3 fibrosis, can be reversible. Alison also addresses a critical concern: alcohol consumption. She breaks down how her guidance differs depending on the presence and stage of fibrosis, adhering to strict AASLD guidelines to protect liver health. Whether you're a healthcare provider or a patient looking for clarity, this video offers evidence-based guidance and compassionate answers.
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Common Questions From Primary Care Providers About MASH
July 2025
In this concise and practical discussion, Lindsay Pratt, PA-C from the University of Colorado’s Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplant, shares expert guidance on screening and managing patients with MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH (Metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). Speaking directly to the common questions she receives from primary care providers, Lindsay outlines when to screen for MASLD/MASH—emphasizing the importance of evaluating patients with elevated liver enzymes, hepatic steatosis on imaging, and cardiometabolic risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and sleep apnea. She breaks down the utility of FIB-4 as a first-line non-invasive test, when to use FibroScan®, and clears up a common misconception about statin use in liver disease—encouraging providers to continue or initiate statins when indicated. This session is ideal for clinicians managing metabolic syndrome and its liver manifestations and offers simple, evidence-based tools to identify at-risk patients early.
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Common Questions from Primary Care Providers About MASH
July 2025
In this informative episode, Emily Przybyl, PA-C at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY, answers two of the most common questions primary care providers have about MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH (Metabolic-associated steatohepatitis): When should I refer to hepatology? and Is it safe to prescribe statins in patients with fatty liver disease? Emily explains that any history of hepatic steatosis on imaging or elevated liver enzymes (LFTs) is reason enough to initiate referral for further workup, including non-invasive testing like FIB-4 or FibroScan®. She also debunks the common myth that statins should be avoided in this population, emphasizing that statins are not contraindicated and are critical for managing cardiometabolic risk factors that drive liver disease progression. This episode is a must-watch for clinicians navigating MASLD/MASH in primary care, with practical guidance that supports early intervention and evidence-based management.
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Common Questions from Community GI About MASH
July 2025
In this practical and timely video, Erin Tanner, NP at Gastro Health in Birmingham, Alabama, shares expert insights on how community gastroenterology providers should approach incidental findings of fatty liver (MASLD/MASH) on abdominal imaging. With over 14 years of experience in GI and hepatology, Erin emphasizes that fatty liver can no longer be ignored, even when discovered during workups for unrelated GI symptoms like reflux or diarrhea. She walks through the step-by-step use of the FIB-4 index to risk-stratify patients and explains when to follow up with further non-invasive testing such as FibroScan® or ultrasound elastography. For patients with F3 fibrosis, Erin outlines next steps including lifestyle interventions, the use of Resmetirom, and the promise of GLP-1 therapies for future treatment. This is a must-watch for GI clinicians aiming to improve outcomes by proactively managing fatty liver disease in everyday practice.
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Common Questions from Primary Care Providers About MASH
July 2025
In this FAQ session, Brian Lam, PA-C, breaks down a common question he receives from primary care providers, endocrinologists, and even other GI specialists: Which patients with fatty liver should be referred to hepatology or GI for further evaluation? Using a clear and practical approach, Brian explains how to apply FIB-4, a simple lab-based non-invasive test, to guide referrals. He emphasizes that patients with metabolic syndrome—especially those with diabetes—are at significantly higher risk for MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), with roughly 1 in 3 diabetic patients affected. If the FIB-4 is greater than 1.3, or greater than 2.0 in adults over 65, it's time to refer. Brian also highlights the utility of FIB-4 with reflex to ELF, now available through major labs like LabCorp and Quest, as an efficient two-step method to detect advanced fibrosis and at-risk MASH. This video is perfect for busy clinicians looking for a referral-friendly workflow to catch MASH early and improve liver health outcomes in high-risk populations.
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Common Questions From Community GI About MASH
August 2025
In this MASLD Community Network episode, Valerie Shin, NP with UCLA Health Hepatology, addresses frequently asked questions from community GI providers about noninvasive tests (NITs) for assessing steatosis and fibrosis in MASLD and MASH. She reviews the benefits and key limitations of the FIB-4 score—highlighting the risk of false negatives in patients with normal AST/ALT levels, false positives in older patients, and inaccuracy when thrombocytopenia is unrelated to liver disease. Valerie explains when to consider second-line NITs, including transient elastography (FibroScan®), ELF score, and MR elastography, detailing their strengths, availability challenges, and technical limitations such as operator dependence, BMI restrictions, and insurance coverage issues. She also clarifies the rare but important role of liver biopsy when NITs produce conflicting or inconclusive results. Whether you’re a healthcare provider seeking practical diagnostic guidance or a patient wanting to understand your testing options, this video offers expert insights into selecting and interpreting noninvasive liver tests for MASLD and MASH.
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APP Insight: Misconceptions About Liver Health
June 2025
In this video, Kelly Smeester, PA-C from South Denver Gastroenterology, addresses some of the most common and harmful misconceptions about liver health. One major myth she tackles is the belief that liver disease only affects those who drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Kelly explains that liver disease has many causes—including autoimmune conditions, viral infections, and metabolic dysfunction—meaning even individuals who don’t drink at all may still be at risk. She emphasizes the dangers of relying on unregulated “liver detox” supplements, clarifying that the liver is a natural detox organ and doesn’t require external cleanses, which may actually do more harm than good. Kelly also highlights how liver disease can be entirely asymptomatic, particularly in patients with conditions like type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Finally, she reinforces that cirrhosis is not solely alcohol-related and can result from steatotic liver disease, making regular liver evaluations and screenings crucial for early detection and management. This video is an essential resource for patients and providers aiming to better understand liver health beyond outdated myths.
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