British scientists are developing a blood test that shows liver disease in the early stages before it has permanent damage. The condition, which is often caused by obesity, affects 20 million adults in the UK and is often asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect until it is too late. Liver function blood tests can now detect the disease at a later stage,
after which the damage to the organ may not change. But with a new test – which only takes minutes – doctors can detect the condition much earlier and when simple lifestyle changes can reverse it. Current diagnostic methods
for liver fibrosis require a biopsy, which is an invasive procedure that involves removing a small sample of liver tissue for analysis. It can be uncomfortable for patients and can take several days to produce results. However, the new rapid blood test is harmless and can produce results in a few minutes.
Assessments can be offered as part of the MOT mid-life health program run by GPs. Liver disease is caused by the accumulation of fat and inflammation. Ultimately, this can lead to organ failure, leaving patients in need of transplants and increasing the risk of liver cancer.
Professor Geltrude Mingrone, a specialist in diabetes and nutrition at King’s College London, said: ‘Liver disease is a silent killer – it doesn’t show symptoms until the last minute. This means that people do not know they have it until the disease is fatal.
“The current blood tests cannot provide any signal. “With the new blood test, we will be able to identify patients a few years ago and help them lose weight, reversing liver damage.”
