Scientists Develop Simple Blood Test to Detect Early Liver Cirrhosis and Cancer

New Delhi: Researchers have developed a new blood test that may help identify individuals at risk of developing serious liver disease within the next 10 years, according to a recent study.

This simple test, if implemented in routine healthcare, could allow for earlier detection of conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, which are often diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

The study was conducted by scientists at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet. Rickard Strandberg, an affiliated researcher at the institute’s Department of Medicine and one of the developers of the test, explained that liver diseases are becoming increasingly common and are associated with poor outcomes when detected late.

“Our method can estimate the likelihood of severe liver disease over the next decade based on three routine blood tests,” he said.

Published in the journal The BMJ, the research evaluated the effectiveness of this approach in predicting severe liver disease. The method, called the CORE model, uses a combination of five factors: age, sex, and levels of three liver enzymes-AST, ALT, and GGT-which are commonly included in regular health check-ups.

By analyzing these routine measurements, the model is able to identify individuals who may be at higher risk of liver damage in the years ahead.

Hannes Hagström, adjunct professor at the Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medicine and principal investigator of the study, highlighted the potential of the test in primary care settings.

“Even though treatments exist for those at high risk of liver conditions such as cirrhosis or liver cancer, early detection is essential. This test could help healthcare providers identify patients who need closer monitoring or intervention,” he said.

The study examined health records from more than 480,000 people in Stockholm, who underwent regular health screenings between 1985 and 1996. These individuals were followed for up to 30 years to track the development of liver disease.

According to the researchers, the CORE model was highly accurate, correctly distinguishing between those who did or did not develop severe liver disease in 88 percent of cases.

With liver disease often progressing silently until serious complications arise, this blood test may offer a valuable tool for proactive care, allowing timely lifestyle changes or medical interventions that could slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes.