The Liver function

LIVER  FUNCTION

Definition

  • Liver function tests, or LFTs, include
    • Tests for bilirubin, a breakdown product of hemoglobin, and 
    • Test for ammonia, a protein byproduct that is normally converted into urea by the liver before being excreted by the kidneys.
    • Tests to measure levels of several enzymes, which help metabolizing other substances.
    • Enzymes that are often measured in LFTs include GGT, ALT (or SGPT) AST (or SGOT) and ALP.
    • LFTs also may include prothrombin time (PT), a measure of how long it takes for the blood to clot.

Description:

  • The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. As the body's "chemical factory," it regulates the levels of most of the main blood chemicals. It acts with the kidneys to clear the blood of drugs and toxic substances. The liver metabolizes these products, alters their chemical structure, makes them water soluble, and excretes them in bile. Liver function tests are used to determine if the liver has been damaged or its function impaired. Elevations of certain liver enzymes in relation to others aids in that determination. For example, aminotransferases (which include ALT and AST) are notably elevated in liver damage caused by liver cell disease (hepatocellular disease). However, in intrahepatic obstructive disease—which may be caused by some drugs or biliary cirrhosis—the alkaline phosphatases are most abnormal. 

Functions of Liver

  • Detoxification of drugs
  • Bile pigment metabolism
  • Carbohydrate,fat,protein metabolisms
  • Secretion of serum proteins
  • Production of coagulation factors
  • Urea synthesis
  • Storage of vitamins B 12
Last modified: Monday, 4 June 2012, 6:53 AM