Show Notes
In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Krystyna de Lange welcomes Dr Jonathon Mitchell, hepatologist from Cairns Base Hospital, to discuss metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formally known as Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NAFLD. They explore the updated terminology, highlight the role of GPs in diagnosis and management, and frame MASLD as largely a metabolic rather than a primary liver disease. Dr Mitchell outlines the main risk factors for MASLD, including excess weight, metabolic syndrome, dietary quality, and family history. The importance of screening for other liver conditions in patients with abnormal LFTs, including viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases, haemochromatosis, and coeliac disease. Non-invasive fibrosis assessment, primarily through the FIB-4 score, is discussed as an accessible tool for GPs. Liver biopsy is rarely required and reserved for cases with diagnostic uncertainty. Management focuses on lifestyle interventions, mainly dietary change and weight loss, with no approved pharmacological treatments currently available in Australia. Monitoring frequency depends on fibrosis status and response to lifestyle changes. They reinforce the importance of holistic care in primary practice, addressing both liver health and associated metabolic risks. Links & Resources: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/july/fatty-liver-disease
The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!
More from The Good GP
In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Krystyna de Lange speaks with Dr Steph Daly, GP with a special interest in aged care and dementia, about the introduction of plasma biomarkers, specifically the p-Tau 217 blood test for Alzheimer’s disease. They explore what the p-Tau 217 test measures, its reliability, and its role in primary care.
In this episode of The Good GP, host Dr Krystyna De Lange speaks with Dr David Leitinger, a GP with a special interest in addiction medicine, about the practical use of naltrexone for managing alcohol use disorder (AUD).
In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Julia Rawlinson speaks with Dr Florence Martin, an epidemiologist specialising in pregnancy pharmacoepidemiology. Dr Martin discusses her recent study examining the relationship between first trimester antidepressant use and miscarriage risk, using UK primary care data from the CPRD GOLD database.
In this episode of the Good GP, Dr Julia Rawlinson speaks with Dr Julia Feutrill, consultant psychiatrist at King Edward Memorial Hospital and co-director of the Elizabeth Clinic. They discuss the complexities of antidepressant use during pregnancy, providing GPs with practical advice for navigating these conversations.
In this episode of the Good GP, Dr Julia Rawlinson speaks with Dr Paul Effler, Senior Medical Advisor at the WA Department of Health and expert in communicable diseases, about H5N1 avian influenza and pertussis.