Liver Blood Tests
|
|
- Liver Blood Tests Overview
- Aminotransferases
- Normal Levels of AST and ALT
- Elevated Levels of AST and ALT
- Diseases That Cause Abnormal Aminotransferase Levels
- Medications That Cause Abnormal Aminotransferase Levels
- Less Common Causes of Abnormal Aminotransferase Levels
- Evaluation of Healthy Patients for Mild to Moderate Rises in Aminotransferase Levels
- Monitoring Aminotransferase Levels
- Other Liver Enzymes
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Liver Blood Tests - Helped With Your Diagnosis
Liver Blood Test Overview
In general, liver blood tests are used to detect an injury or an inflammation to the liver. These tests are commonly ordered and performed in many situations, such as in routine health screening, evaluation of abdominal pain, or suspected liver disease. The liver blood tests are typically done as a part of the comprehensive metabolic panel which also includes electrolyte levels and kidney function.
The main values measured in liver blood tests are the aminotransferases (alanine aminotransferase or ALT and aspartate aminotransferase or AST). The other measurements include alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and bilirubin. It is important to note that these tests are commonly referred to as "liver function tests", but this term is misleading as the aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase do not reflect the function of the liver. Strictly speaking, the true liver function tests (LFT's) include albumin, bilirubin, blood coagulation panel, and glucose.
More specifically, AST, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase are called the liver enzymes and they typically are used to detect damage or injury to the liver (not its function) and they will be covered in this article.
Next: Aminotransferases »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Liver Blood Tests - Helped With Your Diagnosis
Please describe how Liver Blood Tests has helped in your diagnosis.
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Living Better
Find the secrets to longer life.
From WebMD
Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
- 12 Ways to Prevent the Spread of Viruses
- 10 Surprising Benefits of Treating Depression
- Healthy Home: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic?
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Liver Blood Tests
Liver Transplant Overview
Currently, more than 17,000 people in the United States are waiting for liver transplants. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), about 5,300 liver transplantations were performed in the United States in 2002.
The liver is the second most commonly transplanted major organ, after the kidney, so it is clear that liver disease is a common and serious problem in this country. It is important for liver transplant candidates and their families to understand the basic process involved with liver transplants, to appreciate some of the challenges and complications that face liver transplant recipients (people who receive livers), and to recognize symptoms that should alert recipients to seek medical help.
Some basics are as follows:
- The liver donor is the person who gives, or donates, all or part of his or her liver to the waiting patient who needs it. Donors are usually people who have died and wish to...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Perioperative Management of the Patient with Liver Disease »
The number of patients with cirrhosis who require surgery is on the rise.
Featured Topics
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds

