Approach to the Patient with Liver Disease

1. List the 3 most commonly used liver function tests.

1. Bilirubin - product of heme metabolism. Indicates liver uptake, metabolism, and excretory functions
2. Transaminases (ALT/SGPT, AST/SGOT) - ALT more specific for liver dz. EtOH hepatic injury causes AST > ALT
3. Alkaline phosphatase - indicator of cholestasis, biliary obstruction, and infiltrative liver dz. Not specific due to multiple sites of production.

             

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Created on ... November 11, 2004