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Medical Health Tests >>
Liver Tests >>
Liver Function Test |
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Liver Function TestingWith the increasing instances of liver problems, undergoing a liver function test is common place for a number of patients that experience medical complications rooting from issues with the liver. To understand the importance of a liver function test, it is essential to have a relative understanding of the purposes of the liver organ. The liver is the largest glandular organ in the human body and is divided into four lobes of unequal size. The liver has a number of functions such as the production of substances that help break down fats, produce urea, convert glucose to glycogen as well as filter harmful substances and toxins from the blood. The liver is also the organ primarily concerned with the production of cholesterol. Some of the most common medical conditions that affect the liver include hepatitis, Wilson’s disease, liver cancer and cirrhosis.
Elevated Liver Function TestsBecause of the fact that the liver is responsible for so many bodily functions, there are a number of tests that are used when it comes to evaluating liver function. These tests are specifically focused on the particular problem that is being experienced. One of the most commonly used is the elevated liver function tests used to gauge the production of albumin. Albumin is a protein that is specifically produced by the liver and a decrease in its production is usually indicative of a chronic liver disease. Normal values of albumin content in the body range from between 3.9 to 5 g/dL. Liver function test interpretation of Alanine antihistamines, which are enzymes present in the liver cells, takes place when the levels of the substance are higher than 9 to 6 IU/L indicating the presence of some kind of viral hepatitis. Bilirubin is another substance that needs to be specifically measured during a liver function test because it is a very prominent symptom that indicates the presence of jaundice.
Liver Function Test InterpretationLiver function test results interpretation will require the doctor to primarily look through the levels of a liver enzyme – GGT; making sure that it does not go over a threshold of 45. If the liver function test results show that the GGT level is above 100, the doctor will generally analyze the levels of other liver enzymes to work out possible causes of the same. Excessive intake of damaging substances such as alcohol, heroin or ICE is usually the most likely causes, while the presence of diabetes is also a known factor. The presence of tumors inside the liver also causes a slowing down of bile transport within the organ, leading to some abnormalities of the liver.
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Submitted on
November 1, 2010 |
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