Liver Function Tests

Question 1

What does an isolated high bilirubin suggest? (2)

Answer 1

haemolytic anaemia

Gilbert’s syndrome

Question 2

What does an AST 2x greater than ALT suggest? (ie. AST:ALT 2:1)

Answer 2

Alcoholic liver disease

Question 3

What does raised ALP and GGT suggest?

Answer 3

biliary pathology

Question 4

What does ALT and AST in the 1000s suggest?

Answer 4

Hepatitis - toxic, ischaemic, viral

Question 5

What does raised alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) suggest?

Answer 5

hepatocellular carcinoma

Question 6

What does hypoalbuminaemia suggest?

Answer 6

liver failure

nephrotic syndrome

Question 7

How do we test for synthetic liver function?

Answer 7

Look at clotting profile - if poor clotting then sythetic function reduced

Question 8