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Liver function tests

What are Liver Function Tests?

Liver function tests (LFTs) are blood tests used to assess the health of your liver. It is used to detect, diagnose, evaluate, and monitor diseases of the liver. This test can measure the amount of enzymes such as aminotransferases and bilirubin in the blood as well as blood proteins, so it is a reliable indicator of your liver health.

Why Liver Function Tests?

Liver tests are used to check for any liver damage, infection or inflammation or any evidence of cirrhosis (scarring). These tests can also detect any underlying conditions or diseases, such as hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The test helps to determine the prognosis of the liver disorder and the level of treatment required.

Preparation

For most liver tests, you don’t need special preparation. However, you should let your healthcare provider know if you are taking any vitamins, supplements or other medications. These tests usually require a simple blood sample.

Procedure

The procedure for most liver function tests includes:

  • The healthcare provider will take a blood sample from a vein, typically from the inside of your elbow or the back of your hand.
  • The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing.
  • The laboratory will test the sample for the presence of certain enzymes and proteins.
  • The results are then sent to your healthcare provider, who will review the results.

Types of Liver Function Tests

The different types of liver function tests include:

  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): It measures the activity of the enzyme ALT, which is produced mostly by the liver.
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): It measures the activity of the enzyme AST, which is produced mostly by the liver.
  • Alkaline phosphatase (ALP): It measures the amount of ALP enzyme produced by the liver.
  • Bilirubin: It measures the amount of bilirubin, a yellow pigment that results from the breakdown of red blood cells.
  • Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT): It measures the amount of GGT enzyme produced by the liver.
  • Protein: it measures the amount of protein in the blood.
  • Albumin: it measures the amount of albumin in the blood.

Risks of Liver Function Tests

Liver function tests are generally considered safe and pose minimal risks. There is a small chance of bruising or infection at the site of the needle insertion. Other risks associated with liver function tests include:

  • Allergic reactions to the needle.
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness.
  • Fainting.

When should you have liver function tests?

Your doctor may recommend liver function tests if they suspect you may have a liver disease. They may also recommend this test if you are taking any medications or have any medical conditions that may affect your liver.

It is also important to have a regular liver function tests to monitor your liver health, particularly if you have a family history of liver disease or if you drink alcohol regularly.

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Related Questions

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below.The Italian banking system became the model for those North European nations that would achieve the greatest commercial success in the coming centuries, notably the Dutch, the English, and the Swedes. It was in Amsterdam, London and Stockholm that the next decisive wave of financial or innovation occurred, as the forerunners of modern central banks made their first appearance. The seventeenth century saw the foundation of three distinctly novel institutions that, in their differen in ways, were intended to serve a public as well as a private financial function. The Amsterdam Exchange Bank, i.e. the Wisselbank, was set up in 1609 to resolve the practical problems created for merchants by the circulation of multiple currencies in the United Provinces, where there were no fewer than fourteen different mints and copious quantities of foreign coins. By allowing merchants to set up accounts denominated in a standardized currency, the Exchange Bank pioneered the system of cheques and direct debits or transfers that we take for granted today. This allowed more and more commercial transactions to take place without the need for the sums involved to materialize in actual coins. Financial historians disagree as to how far the growth of banking after the seventeenth century can be credited with the acceleration of economic growth that began in Britain in the late eighteenth 20 5 century and then spread to Western Europe, North America and Australasia. But banks played a more important role in continental European industrialization than they did in England's.a) Where did the precursors of modern central banks make their first appearance? b) What practical problem was the Wisselbank required to resolve in its initial days?c) How did the Amsterdam Exchange Bank respond to the demand of the age? d) What are the points of disagreement among the financial historians with respect to growth of banking vis-a-vis growth of economy? e) Choose a suitable title for above composition.
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