Figure showing the prevalence of liver stiffness measurement (LSM; ≥8 kPa) according to the number of metabolic conditions and its association with harmful alcohol use. The numbers equate to the following: 0 is no metabolic condition; 1 is one metabolic condition; 2 is two metabolic conditions; 3 is three metabolic conditions; 4 is four metabolic conditions. The blue bars indicate no harmful alcohol use and pink bars indicate harmful alcohol use. Data show the prevalence of LSM of 8Kpa and greater and 95% CI in brackets for each condition. Odds ratios for the association between harmful alcohol use and LSM of 8 kPa and greater were calculated within each stratum of metabolic conditions, comparing participants with harmful alcohol use to those without harmful alcohol use but with the same number of metabolic conditions. The odds ratio was 1·41 in participants with no metabolic conditions, 2·97 in those with one metabolic condition, 1·79 in those with two metabolic conditions, 1·62 in those with three metabolic conditions, and 1·79 in those with four metabolic conditions. The interaction between harmful alcohol use and the number of metabolic conditions was not statistically significant, with a p value of 0·072. Copyright: 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved.
Liver fibrosis is the main hallmark of chronic liver disease, progressing silently over decades and often remaining undetected.
A new study assessed the prevalence of undiagnosed liver fibrosis and its relationship with metabolic factors or alcohol consumption: spkl.io/63321ANWDf
![[18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET scans in a patient with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis showing a hypermetabolic tissue surrounding the lower abdominal aorta (A: axial view & C: coronal view) & the common iliac arteries (B: axial view); the left ureter is also encased (A, C, & arrows). (D, E) CT scans in a patient with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis showing the typical periaorto-iliac tissue (arrows; D: coronal view & E: sagittal view). (F, G) Contrast-enhanced CT scans of the abdomen in a patient with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis showing the periaortic (F: arrow) & peri-iliac (G: arrow) tissue. (H) Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen in a patient with perianeurysmal retroperitoneal fibrosis showing a soft-tissue mass (arrow) surrounding an aneurysmal aorta; the aortic lumen is partly occupied by a large thrombus. (I) Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen in a patient with retroiliac, paravertebral idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (arrow; atypical localisation).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ypu6bwefbbzhcvojdj7mz657/bafkreihzhgwtb4uxmsxcykgepuqv3z5onma7pz2wauvjfrhrnjnzo4be3e)
