Using Albumin Changes to Detect and Predict Progression of Chronic Liver Disease in Adults

What this Trial Is About

Chronic liver diseases affect over 800 million people worldwide and cause about 2 million deaths each year. Early diagnosis and prediction of disease progression remain major challenges, as current blood markers and panel tests lack sensitivity and specificity. This research focuses on albumin post-translational modifications PTM as potential early biomarkers that may indicate future liver damage and help predict disease progression in patients with chronic liver disease. The study will recruit 756 patients with compensated fibrosis from six university hospitals and follow them for up to three years. Blood samples will be taken at the start and during follow-up visits at one, two, and three years, either through additional tubes added to routine samples or using leftover samples. These will be analyzed centrally to assess albumin isoform profiles and ligand-binding capacities using the Serum Enhanced Binding SEB test. Participants will have no extra visits beyond their usual care appointments. Data including blood results and medical records will be collected at each visit. Researchers will evaluate the ability of albumin modifications and the SEB test to predict liver disease progression, monitor changes over time, and confirm characteristic albumin patterns related to liver injury. The study aims to improve liver disease diagnostics and patient care by validating these novel biomarkers.

Albumin Modifications as Early Biomarkers of Chronic Liver Diseases