Liver - Part 3 Flashcards
Alkaline phosphatase
Is an enzyme produced primarily by the liver, bone and placenta and excreted through the bile ducts
What is marked elevation of alkaline phosphatase associated with?
Obstructive jaundice
Alpha-Fetoprotein
A protein normally synthesized by the liver, yolk sac and GI tract of the fetus
What is alpha-fetoprotein a nonspecific marker for?
Malignancy
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Is an enzyme found in high concentration in the liver and lower concentrations in the heart, muscle, and kidneys
Does ALT or AST stay elevated longer?
ALT
What is ALT used to help assess?
Jaundice
What is elevation of ALT associated with? (3)
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Biliary obstruction
What is mild elevation of ALT associated with?
Liver metastasis
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
Is an enzyme present in many kinds of tissue that is released when cells are injured or damaged
- levels will be proportional to the amount of damage and the time between cell injury and testing
What is AST used to help diagnose?
Liver disease before jaundice occurs
What is elevated levels of AST associated with? (3)
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Mononucleosis
Bilirubin
It is a product from the break down of Hg in old RBC
- a disruption in the process may cause abnormal levels
- leakage into tissues gives the skin a yellow appearance
What does bilirubin reflect?
The balance between production and excretion of bile
What are elevated levels of direct or conjugated bilirubin associated with? (4)
- Obstruction
- Hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Liver metastasis
What are elevated levels of indirect or conjugated bilirubin associated with?
Non-obstructive conditions
Prothrombin time
Is an enzyme produced by the liver that involves clotting factors
What is the normal clotting time?
10-15 seconds
What does clotting factors production depend on?
On the amount of vitamin K
What does elevation of prothrombin time associated with? (4)
- Cirrhosis
- Malignancy
- Malabsorption of vitamin K
- Clotting failure
What can a decrease in prothrombin time be associated with? (5)
- Sub-acute or acute cholecystitis
- Internal biliary fistula
- Carcinoma of the GB
- Injury to biliary ducts
- Prolonged extrahepatic biliary obstruction
What does a decrease in serum albumin suggest?
A decrease in protein synthesis
