Saying bye-opsy to liver biopsies: a potential blood test for liver fibrosis to replace highly invasive diagnosis

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (SC, USA) have reported on a novel test for predicting and diagnosing liver fibrosis through the detection of specially modified antibodies in patient blood samples.  Liver fibrosis refers to scarring as a result of such causes as genetic disorders, metabolic diseases and exposure to environmental toxins, such as overconsumption of alcohol. Minor fibrosis is often reversible but could progress in severity. As Anand Mehta, a Hollings Cancer Center (SC, USA) researcher, commented:  “Today you may have a little bit of scar tissue, but 3 years from now you may have really bad...