Table 5.

Research Priorities and Unmet Needs in the Field

Cut point for each modality with the context of use needs to be determined (eg, screening in primary care or screening in a diabetes clinic)

Validation of quality criteria for each modality

Cost-effectiveness of sequential use of clinical prediction rules (eg, FIB-4) followed by TE/SWE/ARFI followed by MRE

Clinically meaningful increase/decrease in liver stiffness that is linked to a clinical outcome in NAFLD

Clinically meaningful increase in liver stiffness that is associated with a 1-stage increase in liver fibrosis

Clinically meaningful decrease in liver stiffness that is associated with a 1-stage decrease in liver fibrosis

Cut point for liver stiffness for each modality that is associated with a need to treat varices in patients with NAFLD

Clinically meaningful decrease in liver stiffness that is linked to a clinical outcome in NAFLD

Does reduction in liver stiffness in cirrhosis is associated with reduction in the risk of liver decompensation despite no change in fibrosis stage