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MASLD AI 04:12 PM
July 2025
In this essential podcast episode from the GHAPP MASLD/MASH Community Network, Summer Collier, NP at UC San Diego Health, dives into the critical role that primary care providers and advanced practice providers play in recognizing and managing MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and its progressive form, MASH (Metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). With MASLD affecting a growing number of patients—many undiagnosed—Summer walks through practical strategies for early identification, starting with high-risk individuals such as those with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome. She highlights the use of the FIB-4 index as a quick, validated, and guideline-recommended first-line screening tool, and explains how to interpret FIB-4 results to stratify risk and determine next steps, including ELF testing, FibroScan®, or referral to GI/hepatology. Summer also offers actionable workflow tips to integrate liver screening into routine primary care, like embedding FIB-4 calculators in EMRs or incorporating assessments into annual diabetes visits. This episode is a must-listen for clinicians seeking to prevent liver fibrosis progression and liver cancer through early, proactive care.
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PCP Screening for MASH/MASLD: Identifying At-Risk Patients
July 2025
In this essential FAQ video, Jennifer Geremia, PA-C, a seasoned gastroenterology provider practicing in Boston, outlines current primary care screening guidelines for identifying patients at risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and MASLD. With nearly two decades of experience caring for GI and liver patients, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of integrating liver health into routine health maintenance—particularly for individuals with type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and related conditions. She reviews practical steps for risk stratification, beginning with FIB-4 scoring using readily available labs, and discusses how to interpret and act on the results, including when to refer for further testing like elastography or ELF testing. Viewers will also gain insight into patient counseling strategies, alcohol intake guidance, and the urgency of acting early—even in asymptomatic patients. This video is a must-watch for primary care clinicians aiming to improve detection and management of MASH and MASLD through evidence-based screening and timely intervention.
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Podcast: Viral Hepatitis and MASH/MASLD: Understanding the Connection
June 2025
In this episode, Patrick Horne, NP from the University of Florida, explores the important connection between viral hepatitis and MASLD/MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease/Steatohepatitis). While patients may present with a presumed diagnosis of MASLD or MASH, Patrick emphasizes the critical need to rule out coexisting liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C. The presence of both metabolic and viral liver diseases can significantly accelerate liver inflammation, fibrosis progression, and ultimately cirrhosis—a concept he explains using the “two-hit” or even “three-hit” theory. Patrick walks through the recommended screening protocols, including one-time HCV testing for all adults over 18 and complete HBV panels to assess for immunity, past exposure, and chronic infection. He stresses that treating viral hepatitis—especially with today's highly effective antivirals—can and should occur alongside lifestyle modification strategies for MASLD/MASH. He also discusses how liver stiffness measurements can be skewed by active inflammation and suggests reassessing fibrosis after treating viral hepatitis. This episode is a must-watch for providers managing patients with liver disease, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, layered diagnostic approach.
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Monitoring for MASLD in Type 2 Diabetes
July 2025
In this episode of the GHAPP MASLD podcast series, Lavinia Iordache, PA-C from the University of Miami, shares expert guidance on monitoring metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes—a group at particularly high risk for disease progression. Lavinia explains the bidirectional relationship between MASLD and diabetes, highlighting the importance of early screening, timely non-invasive testing (NITs), and proactive management strategies to prevent advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. She reviews essential tools such as FIB-4, ELF score, FibroScan, and MRI-PDFF, and offers clear recommendations on when to escalate care, refer to specialty clinics, or intensify follow-up. The discussion also covers the role of lifestyle interventions including the Mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting, exercise, and coffee consumption, as well as strategies to improve adherence despite psychosocial, cultural, or financial barriers. Lavinia emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to managing MASLD and provides practical tips for tracking lifestyle changes, such as journaling and the use of the EDAS questionnaire. Whether you’re a GI, endocrinology, or primary care provider, this episode offers an actionable roadmap for reducing liver-related complications in patients with diabetes.
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Differentiating Between F3 and F4
July 2025
In this comprehensive discussion, HoChong Gilles, a nurse practitioner with 25 years of hepatology experience at the Richmond VA Medical Center, explores the critical importance of accurately distinguishing between F3 (advanced fibrosis) and F4 (cirrhosis) in patients with MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). While both stages carry increased risks of liver-specific and overall mortality, Gilles explains that F3 may still be reversible with lifestyle changes or pharmacotherapy, whereas F4 signals irreversible liver damage with heightened risk of complications like portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, and liver cancer. Viewers will gain a deeper understanding of how non-invasive tests—like FIB-4, ELF, FibroScan, and MRE—perform in identifying fibrosis stage, including their limitations and overlaps. Gilles also outlines when to consider liver biopsy, especially in cases with discordant test results, atypical features, or clinical uncertainty. This video emphasizes how staging accuracy informs eligibility for therapies, surveillance strategies like HCC screening, and overall prognosis. Learn how to approach this nuanced distinction in clinical practice and why F3 vs. F4 isn't just semantics—it's a turning point in patient care.
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Addressing Health Disparities: Equity Considerations in MASH/MASLD Care
July 2025
In this episode, Patrick Horne, NP at the University of Florida (UF Health), explores the impact of health disparities and socioeconomic inequality on the diagnosis and management of MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis) and MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). With a focus on rural and underserved populations, Patrick discusses how limited access to quality healthcare, healthy food, exercise options, and non-invasive testing (NITs) like FibroScan or MRI elastography can delay diagnosis and worsen outcomes. He shares practical, empathetic strategies for individualizing care, such as using accessible tools like FIB-4 or APRI, promoting low-cost physical activity like walking or swimming, and providing culturally sensitive nutrition advice tailored to financial and geographic realities. Patrick emphasizes the provider’s role as a patient advocate and coach, helping patients navigate barriers and create sustainable lifestyle modifications. This episode offers key insights for clinicians working to close gaps in care and promote equity in liver disease management.
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Podcast: LFTs Demystified: A Practical Guide for APPs
June 2025
In this podcast episode, Michelle Barnett, PA-C, a liver disease specialist based in Colorado Springs, provides a clear and practical overview on demystifying liver enzyme abnormalities—particularly in the context of MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis) and MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease). With MASLD affecting nearly 1 in 4 American adults, understanding liver enzyme patterns is critical for early detection and effective management. Michelle breaks down commonly reported values from hepatic function panels—ALT, ALP (alkaline phosphatase), and total bilirubin—explaining what constitutes normal, acute, subacute, and chronic elevations. She walks through hepatocellular, cholestatic, mixed, and isolated hyperbilirubinemia patterns and what they reveal about underlying liver conditions such as MASH, alcohol-associated liver disease, viral hepatitis, biliary obstruction, and drug-induced liver injury. Whether you're a provider or a patient looking to better understand lab results, this episode delivers expert guidance on interpreting liver enzyme elevations to support more informed clinical decisions.
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LFTs Demystified: A Practical Guide for APPs
July 2025
In this informative session, Anthony Derencius, PA-C and sub-investigator at Pinnacle Clinical Research, provides a practical and accessible breakdown of liver function tests (LFTs) and liver-associated enzymes, with a focus on their role in diagnosing and monitoring fatty liver disease—including MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) and MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis). Drawing from years of experience in both general and transplant hepatology, Anthony explains how to interpret key markers like ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and GGT. He emphasizes why elevated or even normal LFTs don’t always tell the whole story, and how a full workup—including viral hepatitis panels, autoimmune markers, alcohol-related labs, imaging, and non-invasive fibrosis assessments—can help uncover the root cause of liver injury. This video also walks viewers through when to consider additional tools like FIB-4, ELF score, FibroScan, or even liver biopsy. Whether you're a primary care provider or hepatology specialist, this session will sharpen your ability to distinguish between benign lab variations and signs of serious liver disease, ultimately supporting earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for your patients.
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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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Discordant NITs, the Gray Zone
July 2025
Join Lindsay Pratt, PA-C, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Hepatology and Liver Transplant Department, as she unpacks the challenges of interpreting discordant results between non-invasive liver testing tools such as FIB-4 and FibroScan in patients with MASLD and MASH. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Lindsay walks viewers through how age, transaminase levels, platelet count, and patient factors like BMI and fasting status can impact test accuracy and reliability. She emphasizes when to consider advanced diagnostics like MRI elastography (MRE) or liver biopsy, and how to tailor decisions to the individual patient, especially when results don't align. This practical session is ideal for hepatology and GI providers navigating complex liver disease management, and includes tips for communicating test limitations and next steps with patients. Learn how to make informed decisions using non-invasive tests while maintaining patient-centered care in the management of fatty liver disease.
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Podcast: Role of Exercise in Liver Health
June 2025
In this engaging episode of the GHAPP MASLD/MASH Community Network podcast, Jonathan Yeh, PA at Columbia University Medical Center, discusses the essential role of exercise in liver health—especially in managing MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis). With over 14 years of hepatology experience, Jonathan breaks down the most effective types of physical activity, highlighting the benefits of combining aerobic and resistance training over high-intensity interval training (HIIT) alone. He provides practical, personalized exercise recommendations tailored to patients’ physical abilities, access to resources, and comorbidities—including suggestions for those with mobility limitations or time constraints. Jonathan also offers motivational strategies to help patients overcome common barriers such as lack of time, motivation, or access to fitness facilities. From parking farther from a destination to lunchtime walks and home-based workouts using resistance bands, he emphasizes creative and realistic ways to build physical activity into daily routines. Beyond weight loss, he explains how exercise directly improves liver function by reducing liver fat, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and preventing fat and sugar buildup in the liver. This episode is a must-watch for clinicians and patients alike seeking to understand and implement exercise as a cornerstone in the management of fatty liver disease.
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