Saving lives by catching liver disease early

Great news for the residents of Amsterdam who suspect they might have liver disease! The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) is currently holding a conference in Amsterdam and it includes a free liver test for the residents of Amsterdam. Although all residents of Amsterdam aged 18 and older can line up to get tested, doctors are mainly hoping to reach obese people aged 45 to 55 who consume alcohol on a daily basis. Obesity leads to fat in the liver and alcohol creates extra fat and harmful substances, thus increasing the risk of fatty liver disease.

© RAI Amsterdam

By doing free tests, the EASL also wants to bring liver disease to people’s attention. Liver disease is often only diagnosed at a late stage because the patient has no symptoms or the patient’s symptoms are not linked to possible liver disease. The result is an increase in diseases like liver cancer. Early detection would be a great way to catch potential liver issues when they are still in the early stages.

“In the Netherlands, an estimated two million people have a fatty liver, often without knowing it. About 400,000 people are at risk of serious liver damage or liver cancer. The main causes are related to lifestyle: too much alcohol, obesity and an unhealthy diet. We see a sharp increase in liver cancer in particular due to a fatty liver: ten years ago I saw one patient a week with liver cancer, now there are sometimes as many as four. Through low-threshold testing we may be able to reverse this trend.” –Bart Takkenberg, gastroenterologist at Amsterdam UMC

The test itself takes about 10 minutes, but it’s advised not to eat anything for four hours prior to the test. During the test, a healthcare professional uses a so-called FibroScan to measure how fast ultrasound waves travel through the liver. That way, it’s possible to determine how healthy the liver is. The results are explained by a doctor or nurse right after the test.

When the test indicates that someone is suffering from hardening of the liver, they are asked to return another time. If the result is the same, they receive a form with more explanations and their GP is asked to refer them to a specialist in their own area.