{
  "id": 1703222,
  "title": "Researchers develop blood test targeting overlooked marker of liver disease",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/researchers-develop-blood-test-targeting-overlooked-marker-of-liver",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T12:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-blood-overlooked-marker-liver-disease.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Liver disease frequently goes unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages marked by symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain, and jaundice. A team of researchers at The University of Toledo, led by Drs. Matam Vijay-Kumar and Sadhana Kumari, have developed a blood test that can detect an early warning sign of liver disease even before symptoms manifest. The test focuses on measuring bile acids, a byproduct of liver function that is typically overlooked in standard blood panels.\n\nBile acids are produced by the liver to aid in digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Under normal circumstances, they cycle between the liver and intestine without entering the bloodstream. However, when liver function is compromised or bile flow to the gallbladder is obstructed, bile acids can spill into the blood, leading to a condition known as cholemia. Cholemia is asymptomatic in its early stages, making it easy to miss during routine blood tests that only measure cholesterol, bilirubin, and triglycerides.\n\nThe researchers discovered that elevated bile acids alter the lipid composition of red blood cell membranes, making them more rigid and resistant to osmotic stress. This rigidity allows the cells to withstand higher levels of bile acids without rupturing, a finding that held true in both mouse models of liver disease and human patients with cholestatic liver disease. The test can be performed by collecting a small additional amount of blood during a routine glucose test, with results available within 10-20 minutes.\n\nThe implications of this test extend beyond general liver screening. Dr. Vijay-Kumar highlights the importance of early detection in pregnant women, as high levels of bile acids during pregnancy (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy) can cause severe fetal harm or stillbirth. The test could also be valuable in diagnosing a range of clinical conditions, including drug-induced liver injury, where elevated bile acids are often missed.\n\nWhile elevated bile acids in the blood may indicate liver stress, the test is not a diagnosis itself. Instead, a positive result would prompt further evaluation and potentially lead to lifestyle changes, closer monitoring, or early intervention to prevent the progression of liver disease. The researchers have filed a patent for their diagnostic method, which could soon be available in clinics for early detection of liver disease.",
  "summary": "Liver disease often progresses silently until it becomes a serious condition. By the time symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal discomfort and jaundice develop, liver disease has often progressed beyond its earliest and most treatable stages. Researchers at The University of Toledo have found a way to identify one of its earliest warning signs before symptoms appear, with a simple blood test.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}