Special Precautions/Comments:

Additional Information:

Liver Function Tests (LFT) is a panel of tests used to investigate possible liver disease or dysfunction. Please note a normal LFT does not exclude liver disease. Similarly, abnormal LFT results can be observed in a healthy individual.  

Albumin – assesses the synthetic capacity of liver. Hypoalbuminaemia does not always reflect hepatic synthetic dysfunction.

Bilirubin (total) – may be raised in hepatocellular or cholestatic picture, isolated hyperbilirubinemia is commonly seen in Gilbert’s syndrome.

Alanine transferase (ALT) – cytosolic enzyme, released upon cell damage. Not specific for liver, but more specific than aspartate transferase (AST). Used as a marker of hepatocellular damage. In the presence of GGT increases confidence of liver origin.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) – enzyme found in bone, liver, intestine and placenta. If in the presence of GGT can assume liver origin. Increased liver ALP indicates a cholestatic picture. Isoenzyme analysis can be performed to further investigate ALP origin. 

Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) – enzyme that can be increased in hepatocellular damage, cholestasis and due to enzyme induction by alcohol and some drugs (e.g. phenytoin and barbiturates). Raised GGT in presence of ALT or ALP increases confidence of liver origin.

Total protein – assesses the synthetic capacity of liver. Isolated increased total protein may warrant a myeloma screen. 

Coagulation studies can also be used to look at synthetic capacity of the liver.