Liver Function Tests

Question 1

aminotransferases

Answer 1

1) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
2) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

both are elevated with hepatocyte injury

Question 2

alkaline phosphotase

Answer 2

elevation indicates cholestasis (gallstones)

Question 3

bilirubin

Answer 3

measures liver’s ability to detoxify metabolites and transport organic anions into bile
**when elevated can show impaired hepatic function.. determine whether it is mostly direct (conjugated) or indirect (unconjugated)

Question 4

albumin

Answer 4

severe impairment in liver function reduces albumin (liver failure)

• synthesized exclusively in the liver
• hypoalbuminemia can occur with heart failure, malnutrition, and nephrotic syndromes too

Question 5

prothrombin time

Answer 5

reflects the degree of liver failure

• PT increases as the ability of the liver to synthesize clotting factors diminishes
• correlates with severity of liver failure/hepatic dysfunction
• AKA INR