New blood tests could replace painful liver biopsies for millions with fatty liver disease

NCT ID NCT03695796

Completed Diagnosis Sponsor: University Hospital, Angers Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study looked at over 1,000 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to see if simple blood tests and ultrasound-based devices can accurately detect liver scarring (fibrosis) without needing a liver biopsy. The goal is to develop reliable, non-invasive tools to identify patients who may benefit from future treatments. Participants had liver biopsies to confirm their condition and also underwent various non-invasive tests for comparison.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to: If successful, this could lead to reliable non-invasive tests to identify NAFLD patients who need treatment, avoiding the need for liver biopsies.
What could go wrong: This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. The tests may not be accurate enough to replace biopsy in all cases, and results may not apply to all patient groups.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

NAFLD

Contacts and locations

Locations

Amiens University Hospital

Amiens, France
Edouard Herriot Hospital

Lyon, France
Grenoble University Hospital

Grenoble, France
Hospital Center Of Lorient

Lorient, France
Hospital of Le Havre

Le Havre, France
Saint-Joseph Hospital

Marseille, France
University Hospital Of Nancy

Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
University Hospital Of Nice

Nice, France
University Hospital of Besançon

Besançon, France
University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand

Clermont-Ferrand, France
University Hospital of Lille

Lille, France
University Hospital of Pointe à Pitre

Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
University Hospital of Rouen

Rouen, France
University Hospital of Strasbourd

Strasbourg, France
University Hospital of Toulouse

Toulouse, France
University of Bordeaux

Pessac, France

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