It’s a revolutionary breakthrough.
Doctors may soon be able to detect the risk of fatty liver disease years before symptoms appear, thanks to a newly developed blood test. Researchers found that by measuring five specific proteins in the blood, they could accurately predict the future development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease. The study, which will be presented at Digestive Disease Week in San Diego, showed the test could predict the disease with 84% accuracy within five years and 76% accuracy up to 16 years in advance.
The research team, led by Dr. Shiyi Yu of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital in China, emphasized the urgent need for earlier detection methods. Many patients only discover they have liver disease after symptoms arise and significant damage has occurred. By using plasma proteins as early indicators, the new test offers a promising strategy for early intervention, potentially preventing serious health complications.
Fatty liver disease occurs when fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation, scarring, and an increased risk of premature death. For this study, researchers analyzed blood samples from over 50,000 participants in the UK Biobank. After screening more than 2,700 proteins, they identified five proteins that served as reliable early warning signs. Incorporating other factors like body mass index and physical activity levels further improved the test’s predictive power, boosting its accuracy to over 90% for five-year predictions.
To confirm their findings, the team tested the model in a separate group of individuals from China, where it performed similarly well. This suggests the blood test could be effective across different populations. If validated in larger studies, this approach could offer a powerful new tool for identifying at-risk individuals long before the onset of disease, allowing for earlier lifestyle changes and medical interventions.
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