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SRL diagnostics, India s leading diagnostics chain has for the first time in India, launched a blood based test which can detect liver fibrosis caused due to Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common disorder and refers to a condition where excess fat accumulates in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol or do not have any viral or genetic cause of liver disease. The test is now available at SRL centres pan India.
It is reported that, 20-30% Indians in urban areas and 8 % Indians in rural areas have NAFLD. Also, 75% of people suffering from diabetes and 50% of people with hypercholesterolemia have NAFLD. People who have Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, presence of insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian disease in their body and are obese are particularly prone to develop NAFLD. The rising prevalence of NAFLD will in the near future lead to end-stage liver disease in a large number of patients with cirrhosis and it predicted to be a leading indication for liver transplantation in the coming decade. (Read: Fatty liver increases the risk of heart disease in obese by around 80%)
Nowadays, because of its accuracy and high applicability, a blood based non invasive test to check liver fibrosis is recommended by major international organizations like European Association of Study of Liver Disease (EASL) Association of Physicians of India (API). The major advantage of this test is its highest degree of accuracy to diagnose the stage of fibrosis and also quantify it in patients of NAFLD.The test requires few millilitres of blood to perform the investigations. (Read: 10 things that can cause liver disease)
Dr.B.R Das President-Research & Innovation, Mentor-Molecular Pathology and Clinical Research Services, SRL Limited, says 'Commonly, NAFLD is diagnosed incidentally as more than half of the patients are asymptomatic. Although ultrasound tests are available to assess liver condition, it can only detect fatty liver and to assess liver fibrosis, the invasive liver biopsy has been the test of choice. With the introduction of this blood test checking for liver fibrosis and assessing its stage become easy.' 'Although NAFLD is more common in subjects with obesity and diabetes mellitus, it does occur in lean and non-diabetic individuals. Moreover, it is important to get screened for this condition because there is 8 times higher risk of death due to liver diseases and 2 times higher risk of death due to Cardiovascular Diseases.' he added.
Along with transient elastography, which is a radiological method for checking liver fibrosis, this blood based test will be beneficial to physicians and patients both. The major advantage of a blood based test is that, unlike transient elastography, it has immense reach through SRL s network of collection centres and can be done in any patient irrespective of his or her obesity status. (Read: 5 foods that can help prevent liver disease)
Press release
Photo source: Getty images (Image for representational purpose only)