According to a story from pharmaphorum.com, the drug company Genfit has recently released data from a study which was testing the effectiveness of a new approach for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a disease that affects the liver. The results of the study were encouraging and indicate that the approach could ultimately replace the standard method of diagnosis that is used today: a liver biopsy.
About Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a type of liver disease in which fat is deposited in the liver independent of excessive alcohol consumption. This disease can progress rapidly. Risk factors include metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. There also appears to be some genetic component to the disease as well. This condition also increases the risk of other health problems and liver cancer. Men also seem to be at greater risk, getting the disease as almost twice the rate that women do. Symptoms of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis include jaundice, malaise, fatigue, and abdominal pain or discomfort. Without treatment, the liver can become scarred and the patient may need a liver transplant. However, the condition can also be managed with proper diet, the use of certain medications, and exercise. To learn more about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, click here.
A New Diagnostic Method
The method being tested in the study is called NIS4. This is a blood test based on an algorithm that promises to be far less invasive than a biopsy. In the study, the method was compared to several other non-invasive methods and was found to be superior. All of the patients that were tested in the study had type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a major risk factor for the condition. The algorithm used in NIS4 is based on four different biomarkers.
The study found that patients that used a greater number of therapies to control their diabetes were at the greatest risk for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and accompanying liver fibrosis (scarring). The study authors concluded by saying that patients with diabetes type 2 should undergo surveillance in order to detect potential liver damage. The effectiveness of the test was also an important finding as it displayed some major advantages when compared to a biopsy, which is expensive and unpleasant for patients and carries the risk of serious complications.
NIS4 looks like the way of the future for diagnosing this liver disease.
