LIVER
FUNCTION TESTS (LFTs)
The
liver serves three functions:
1.
It stores and filters blood.
2. It makes bile that is stored in the gall
bladder.
3. It metabolises nutrients from food.
Blood
tests can measure the levels of enzymes found in the liver cells.
|
LIVER ENZYME |
NORMAL LEVELS |
RAISED LEVELS |
|
ALT (SGPT)ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE |
3-35 iu/L |
Raised levels of ALT suggest liver damage or liver
disease. |
|
AST (SGOT) ASPARTATE TRANSAMINASE |
3-35 iu/L |
Raised levels of AST suggest liver damage or liver
disease. |
|
BILIRUBIN |
3-17 UMOL/L |
A raised bilirubin
suggests a hepatitis.
|
|
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE |
30-300 iu/L |
Raised levels of ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE are indicative
of liver obstruction or infections such as TB or MAI. |
|
GGT GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSPEPTIDASE |
11-51 iu/L |
Raised levels of GGT suggest liver disease and
probably more specific for alcohol induced damage. |
|
LDH LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE |
70-250 iu/L |
Raised levels in liver disease. May also be raised
in kidney and blood diseases. |
