Investigation of the liver Flashcards
Hepatocytes make up what percenatge of liver mass?
60%
What are the 3 functions of the liver in terms of lipids?
1) Lipoprotein and cholesterol synthesis
2) fatty acid metabolism
3) Bile acid synthesis
Which kinds of hormones are inactivated and excreted by the liver?
Steroid hormones
What metal is stored in the liver?
Iron
Where are amino acids metabollised?
Liver - urea cycle
Which 4 vitamins are stored and metabolised in the liver?
A, D, E, B12
What 6 measurements are included in LFTs?
1) Alkaline phosphatase
2) ALT (alanine aminotransferase)
3) Bilirubin
4) Albumin
5) Total protein
6) GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase)
What substance can be measured to assess the liver function of carbohydrate metabolism?
Glucose
What 3 things can be measured in the blood to check the livers protein function?
1) Albumin
2) urea
3) Porthrombin
What 3 things can be measure in the blood to check the livers lipid function?
1) Cholesterol
2) triglycerides
3) Bile acids
What 3 substances can be measured in the blood to check the livers excretion and detoxification function?
1) Bilirubin
2) Drugs
3) Steroid hormones
What substance in the blood can be measured as an indicator of the livers iron storage capacity?
Ferritin
What blood measurement would reflect the livers Vit K storage capacity?
Pro-thrombin time
What are the 4 broad available liver function tests?
1) Production of metabolites
2) Clearance of endogenous substances
3) Clearance of exogenous substances
4) Imaging, biopsy
What are the 2 aminotransferase enzymes found in the liver?
AST and ALT
Is AST or ALT more specific for liver?
ALT
Where else in the body is AST found? 2
Muscle and RBCs
What protein is a tumour marker for primary HCC?
Alpha fetoprotein
Where are ALT and AST found in the liver?
Within the hepatocytes
What has to occur for ALT and AST to be released?
Cellular damage
If there was impaired excretory function of the biliary tract what would be raised?
Conjugated bilirubin
Which 2 enzymes are synthesised by the cells lining the bile canaliculi?
1) Alk Phos
2) gamma GT
Why at a basic level would Alk Phos be raised?
Elevated due to increased production by cells lining the bile canaliculi and overflow into blood
What are the 4 causes of raised Alk Phos?
1) Cholestasis (intra or extra hepatic)
2) Infiltrative diseases
3) Space-occupying lesions (tumours)
4) Cirrhosis
What are the 4 sights of production of alk phos?
Liver, bone intestine, placenta
How are liver and bone isoenzymes seperated?
By electrophoresis
What would elevated gamma glutamyltransferase indicate?
Structural damage to the biliary tract
Give 7 causes of biliary tract damaged and thus elevated gamma GT?
1) Alcohol
2) Enzyme inducing agents
3) Fatty liver
4) Heart failure
5) Prostatic disease
6) Pancreatic disease (acute and chronic)
7) Kidney damage (ARF, nephrotic syndrome, rejection)