What is the Significance of Each Liver Function Test Indicator?
Among our bodily organs, the liver is responsible for detoxification. Despite its vital role, we often overlook its health due to the absence of pain nerves in the liver. Consequently, minor ailments are difficult to detect promptly, necessitating medical examinations for a detailed assessment. Understanding the significance of various indicators in liver function tests is crucial.
Liver function tests reflect the physiological functions of the liver and typically include ALT, AST, AST/ALT, GGT, ALP, TBILI, DBILI, IBILI, TP, ALB, GLB, A/G, LDH-L, Ch, SF, PA, and other parameters. Familiarity with these test standards enhances understanding and diagnosis of liver function.
Due to the liver's diverse functions, there are numerous methods for assessing its health. These include serum protein tests, common serum enzyme tests, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) tests, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) tests, serum bilirubin tests, CB/STB, alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), and others. Understanding the normal values and standards of these tests is vital for diagnosing liver health.
Serum bilirubin is a crucial indicator for assessing the prognosis of hepatocyte damage. Elevated bilirubin levels in liver disease patients suggest severe hepatocyte damage. Chronically abnormal levels may indicate a risk of chronic liver disease, while rapid elevations indicate critical illness. Elevated bilirubin can also be observed in chronic active hepatitis, viral hepatitis, acute icteric hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice, hemolytic jaundice, neonatal jaundice, gallstones, pancreatic diseases, and blood transfusions.
TBIL, combined with DBIL and symptoms, can assist in differentiating hemolytic jaundice, hepatocellular jaundice, obstructive jaundice, or familial hypercholesterolemia. An increase in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels can indicate intrahepatic and extrahepatic obstructive jaundice, pancreatic cancer, cholangitis, and other bile stasis syndromes.
In conclusion, maintaining liver health is essential for overall well-being. Regular liver function tests, along with an understanding of the significance of various indicators, can aid in timely diagnosis and management of liver-related issues.
