Blood tests can predict risk of severe liver disease: Know how to keep this organ healthy

According to a new study, repeated measurements of the biomarker FIB-4 in human blood every few years can predict the risk of developing severe liver disease.

By: Jahnavi Sarma | | Published: July 4, 2020 8:14 pm

Losing weight is the first thing that you need to do to bring down your risk factor for fatty liver. But don’t go for rapid weight loss. Do this gradually. @Shutterstock

Fat accumulation in the liver is common and is often seen in people with obesity or diabetes. In the worst case, fatty liver can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is unusual for this to occur but in those affected, symptoms often only occur at a late stage when there is no available treatment. It is difficult to predict the risk of cirrhosis, although you can get some guidance in using regular blood tests that measure liver damage. Also Read - Chinese man loses half his liver after eating undercooked fish: 7 foods that you should never eat raw

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found that repeated measurements of the biomarker FIB-4 in human blood every few years can predict the risk of developing severe liver disease. According to a study published in the Journal of Hepatology, the risk of liver cirrhosis increases if the levels of this biomarker rise between two testing occasions. Also Read - Women less likely to die of liver cirrhosis than men: Know the symptoms of this disease

FIB-4 score can identify people at high risk of liver cirrhosis

Researchers investigated whether what is known as the FIB-4 score can increase the accuracy of the identification of people at high risk, in particular with information from repeated measurements. The new study shows that repeated sampling and measurements of the FIB-4 score, rather than measuring FIB-4 on one sole occasion, can increase the prediction of future liver cirrhosis. Researchers used the ‘AMORIS’ cohort that contains laboratory test data in a very large population, surveyed between 1985 and 1996. Also Read - 5 things you can do to prevent liver disease

More than 40,000 people had contributed to the blood test data for FIB-4 on several sampling occasions. They were followed in national registers to identify those who developed cirrhosis after up to 27 years. The main finding was that the risk increases in people where the FIB-4 score rises between two testing occasions and decreases when it falls. In this way, almost half of those who were later affected by cirrhosis could be identified.

Risk of false-positive tests is a possibility

One problem, however, was that the accuracy was relatively low, with a risk of false-positive tests, the researchers said. The study also established that it took a long time to develop cirrhosis, and that it may be enough to recalculate the FIB-4 score at intervals of several years. The study shows that this biomarker is useful for identifying people in primary care with an increased risk of cirrhosis who may need to be more carefully investigated and to exclude people who do not need this. But the method needs to be further developed to reduce the risk of false-positive findings, which can lead to unnecessary examinations in healthy people, said researchers.

Natural ways to boost liver health

Liver disease can be debilitating. But there are many things that you can do to boost the health of this important organ. You can start by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Avoid alcohol and maintain a healthy weight. Toxins can injure and damage the cells in your liver. Be careful not to have direct contact with cleaning and aerosol products, chemicals and pesticides. Avoid food additives and don’t smoke. All these steps will help you keep your liver healthy.

(With inputs from IANS)

Published : July 4, 2020 8:14 pm

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