Is there a role for the use of transient elastography (FibroScan) to monitor liver fibrosis in patients on long term methotrexate?
Answer from: at Academic Institution
Liver elastography is a useful tool to use when assessing the potential hepatotoxicity of various drug therapies. Traditionally, methotrexate accounted for nearly all the hepatotoxicity issues that we faced; however, we can add many other drugs to that list. Virtually, every immune suppressive drug ...
Factors that tend to increase the potential hepatotoxicity of MTX include obesity, as mentioned, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, alcohol, underlying liver disease such as latent hep C infection for example (I hep C screen everybody with RA and autoimmune disorders), fatty liver, and the concomitant use of...