Liver function tests: everything you need to know

The liver is a vital organ responsible for many essential functions in the body. To assess its health, doctors frequently recommend liver function tests. These tests measure the levels of certain enzymes and proteins in the blood, providing valuable information about the condition of the liver.

The Elytispatients benefit from comprehensive investigations and accurate interpretation of results, ensuring they receive the best care.

What liver enzymes are measured?

Liver function tests include measuring levels of the following enzymes:

• ALT (Alanine aminotransferase):
  • This enzyme is mainly found in the liver. Elevated ALT levels may indicate liver damage, such as viral or toxic hepatitis.
• AST (Aspartate aminotransferase):
  • AST is present in the liver, heart, muscle and other tissues. High AST levels may suggest liver damage, but also heart or muscle disease.
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase):
  • ALP is found in the liver, bones and intestines. Elevated levels of ALP may indicate bile duct disease or bone disease.
• GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase):
  • GGT is present in the liver and bile ducts. High GGT levels may indicate bile duct disease or excessive alcohol consumption.

When are these tests indicated?

Liver function tests are recommended in the following situations:

• Suspicion of hepatitis:
  • Symptoms such as tiredness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) may suggest hepatitis.
  • The Elytis patients are offered comprehensive investigations to diagnose different forms of hepatitis.
• Cirrhosis:
  • Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that can be caused by chronic hepatitis, excessive alcohol consumption or other liver diseases.
  • Diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver is difficult, but Elytis offers all the imaging and laboratory means to establish the diagnosis as early as possible.
• Bile duct diseases:
  • Bile duct obstruction, gallstones or other bile duct disorders can affect liver function.
  • Elytis offers high-performance imaging services, such as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can detect bile duct disorders in their early stages.
• Treatment monitoring:
  • People taking drug treatments that can affect the liver need regular monitoring of liver function.
  • The Elytis patients can benefit from close monitoring of liver function when the therapeutic regimen requires it.
• Chronic alcohol consumption:
  • Drinking too much alcohol can lead to severe liver damage.
  • Doctors from Elytis professionally approach patients with varying degrees of alcohol dependence.
• Metabolic diseases:
  • Certain metabolic diseases, such as Wilson's disease or hemochromatosis, can affect the liver.
  • Within the hospital Elytis there are physicians specialized in diagnosing and monitoring metabolic diseases with liver involvement.

What information does the analysis provide?

Liver function tests provide valuable information about:

• Liver damage:
  • Elevated liver enzyme levels may indicate cell damage in the liver.
• Liver inflammation:
  • Elevated levels of certain enzymes may suggest inflammation in the liver.
• Biliary obstruction:
  • Elevated levels of ALP and GGT may indicate bile duct obstruction.
• Detoxifying function:
  • Certain tests can assess the liver's ability to detoxify harmful substances.

Why is so special Elytis Hospital?

• Experienced medical team: Elytis doctors have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating liver diseases.
• State-of-the-art technology: the hospital has modern equipment for laboratory tests and imaging investigations.
• Personalized approach: each patient receives an individualized assessment and a treatment plan tailored to their needs.
• Comprehensive services: Elytis offers a wide range of medical services, from laboratory tests and imaging investigations to complex treatments.

Liver function tests are essential to keep your liver healthy!

The Elytis, patients benefit from high-quality medical services and a personalized approach, ensuring that they receive the best care for their liver.

Latest revision:

10.03.2025, Laura Țăranu - laboratorycoordinator

References:

• Newsome, Philip N., et. al. "Guidelines on the management of abnormal liver blood tests". Gut, 2018, vol. 67. no. 6.