Translating the potential of the urine steroid metabolome to stage NAFLD (TrUSt - NAFLD)

Fat deposition in the liver is now the commonest chronic liver condition, affecting one-in-three individuals. It can lead to liver problems including cirrhosis and liver cancer as well as increasing your risk of heart attacks and strokes. 

Simple blood tests are often normal, and the current gold-standard test for assessing NAFLD severity is a liver biopsy. This is an invasive procedure that is associated with significant complications, including pain and bleeding. We have developed a urine test that measures natural steroid hormones and provides an accurate reflection of how the liver is functioning in patients with NAFLD.

We wish to extend our findings to a large cohort of patients with NAFLD to ensure that our test is accurate and reliable. 

If successful, our urine test could be used by GPs and hospitals reducing liver biopsies and making a significant advance to patient care.