A simple way has been found to identify dangerous changes in the liver

A routine blood test in the future could help detect dangerous changes in the liver and predict the risk of serious complications, including cancer. This is the conclusion reached by scientists at Shinshu University in Japan. The study results were published in the journal JHEP Reports.

The researchers studied data from more than five thousand people, including patients with fatty liver disease. This disease causes excess fat to accumulate in the organ, which over time can lead to inflammation, scar tissue, and liver dysfunction.

Scientists have discovered that the level of C7 protein in the blood can tell about the condition of the liver. The higher its concentration, the greater the damage to the organ and the higher the risk of complications.

Specifically, patients with C7 levels above 140 mcg/mL had approximately 4.5 times the risk of serious complications, even after controlling for other factors. Such complications include liver cancer and other serious consequences of the disease.

Additional experiments showed that the C7 protein is associated with the functioning of cells that are involved in the formation of scar tissue. This helps explain why its concentration may indicate worsening liver health.

The authors believe that in the future, measuring C7 in the blood could be a simple way to identify patients at high risk of complications.