Can premarital checkups detect early liver damage?

Pre-marital examinations may detect early liver damage, but their effectiveness can be limited.

Pre-marital exams typically include liver function tests, such as indicators like alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Abnormalities in these indicators may suggest liver damage. Additionally, some pre-marital exams may also include testing for hepatitis B surface antigen to screen for hepatitis B virus infection, which is a common cause of liver damage. If the pre-marital examination is comprehensive and the liver damage presents as significant biochemical abnormalities, it is possible for the exam to detect early liver damage.

It should be noted that although pre-marital exams can provide an initial assessment of liver health, their scope and depth are limited. If the examinee has risk factors for liver damage, such as long-term alcohol consumption, fatty liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, or if liver function tests or hepatitis B panel results are abnormal, more comprehensive liver evaluations and tests are recommended.

In daily life, maintaining good lifestyle and dietary habits and undergoing regular medical checkups can help prevent and manage liver diseases.