What is Liver function test?
Liver is the largest organ in your body with various important functions to keep you healthy. It is located in the right upper abdomen below the rib cage. It removes toxins, stores vitamins & minerals, regulates blood clotting, provides protection from infection, metabolizes medicines and plays important role in glucose, protein & fat metabolism.
Liver function test is a part of the standard comprehensive metabolic panel and can be ordered separately as well.
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Liver function test commonly includes following tests:
AST (SGOT)
ALT (SGPT)
Total Bilirubin
Alkaline Phosphatase
Total protein
Albumin
Normal Liver function test range: (May vary among various labs)
AST (SGOT) – 5-34 U/L
ALT (SGPT) – 5-55 U/L
Total Bilirubin – 0.1-1.2 MG/DL
Alkaline Phosphatase – 40-150 U/L
Total protein – 6.4-8.3 GM/DL
Albumin – 3.5-5.0 GM/DL
What are the common causes of abnormal Liver function test?
Excessive Alcohol use
Certain medications and herbal supplements
Hepatitis A, B or C
Autoimmune Hepatitis where antibodies attack the liver
Inflammation from too much of fat deposition in Liver (Fatty liver or Steatohepatitis)
Genetic diseases like Wilson disease or Hemochromatosis
Heart failure causing congestive hepatopathy due to too much of fluid in the Liver
Liver Cancer
Muscle injury
Heart attack or injury to heart muscles
Thyroid disease
Gall stones and Gall Bladder diseases
Conditions affecting Bile system that drains bile into the intestines
Certain bone conditions
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