Non-invasive tests show promise for assessing MASLD and MASH, studies find

Two international studies, published in The Lancet and Nature Medicine, examine which non-invasive tests can accurately detect metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and gauge its severity, including the more serious form, MASH. Both sit within the LITMUS programme, a large multinational effort to test diagnostic tools for these conditions. Researchers say the results are among the most realistic benchmarks yet, though spotting active liver inflammation remains harder. SOMAScan performed strongly in the work.

Estimates suggest up to a third of adults worldwide have MASLD, and as many as 70 per cent of people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. As the first licensed drugs for MASH enter clinical practice, demand for accurate, non-invasive ways to monitor the disease is rising. The authors also note that liver biopsy will likely remain necessary for now in late-stage MASH trials, because regulators require confirmation of at-risk MASH before enrolment. The reporting does not discuss Indian practice directly, but the prevalence figures point to relevance for diabetes and obesity clinics.