Povišani jetrni testi vzrok

Customer question:

How does testing for elevated liver enzymes work? Anonymous customer's question

Pharmacist's answer:

Testing for elevated liver enzymes usually involves blood tests, a liver profile, or a liver panel. These tests measure the levels of various liver enzymes and other chemicals in the blood that can indicate liver function and possible liver problems.

Some critical components of the liver profile include:

• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): Increased ALT values are often associated with liver damage or inflammation.
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): AST is another enzyme released when the liver is damaged but also found in other organs, such as the heart.
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): ALP is an enzyme associated with the biliary system. Increased ALP values may indicate problems with bile ducts.
• Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT): GGT is another bile-related enzyme often measured along with other liver enzymes.
• Total bilirubin: bilirubin is a pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. High levels of bilirubin can indicate problems with the liver or bile.
• Albumin and total protein: measurement of these proteins can assess protein synthesis in the liver.
• Prothrombin time (PT) or International Normalized Ratio (INR): measurements that assess the blood coagulation ability and may reflect liver function.

The testing process usually takes place in the following way:

• Blood draw: a doctor or nurse takes a blood sample, usually from a vein inside the elbow.
• Blood sample analysis: the blood sample is sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed for the presence and levels of liver enzymes and other markers.
• Interpretation of the results: the doctor evaluates the test results to determine whether the enzyme levels are normal or elevated.

Elevating liver enzymes may indicate liver problems but does not give an accurate diagnosis. Additional tests and clinical evaluation are usually necessary to determine the cause of the increase and determine further treatment.

Interesting reading: Elevated liver enzymes