Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Digestive System > Test of Liver Function > Flashcards

Test of Liver Function Flashcards

1
Q

Two enzymes found in the centre of the hepatic lobule?

What do these reflect?

A

AST & ALT: involved in aa processing and gluconeogenesis, which are released in the circulation during CELL BREAKDOWN

Reflect the function of the cells in the middle of the lobule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Two enzymes anatomically associated with the portal triad

A

GGT & ALP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where is bilirubin found, what does it reflect

A

Associated with the portal triad

reflect injury to outer part, or how the liver as a whole is processing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Functional roles of liver that can be tested?

A

Albumin (check levels)
Co-agulation factors (prothrombin ratio)
Glucose (that is released between levels can be measured)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

If we have an inflammatory process that is affecting the CENTRAL part of the lobule we get a release of…. these indicate …

A

AST and ALT that can be measured in BS

Indication of a viral agent (viral hepatitis) or a toxin/drug

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

There may be things that affect the outside of the lobule… these indicate ….

A

Release GGT and ALP and bilirubin, also measured in bloodstream.

Potentially from obstruction (which causes dilation of the biliary system) like gallstones
-drugs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

is there ever an overlap of ALT and AST with GGP and ALP

A

Almost always

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Bilirubin is. Process of it metabolism.

A
  • A product of haem (carries iron)
  • insoluble and has to be carried by ALBUMIN (unconjugated bilirubin >85% of BS)
  • Liver uptakes and processes it (sticks something on it to make it soluble)
  • bilirubin-glucuronide (conjugated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

In processing unconjugated bilirubin, what does the liver usually do

A

Sticks something on it to make it soluble, usually a sugar, eg- glucuronide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Whats different between unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin

A

Conjugated (bilirubin-glucuronide,

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Urobilinogen

A

Brown substance that adds colour to poop. Small molecule, can enter the enterohepatic circulation, the intestine reabsorbs and urobiligen is excreted in the faeces OR since it’s a small molecule, can exit via urine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens if you have an obstruction/issues in the processing of bilirubin?

A

Conjugated bilirubin levels will increase (bilirubin-glucuronide), >15% as it can’t easily exit into the gut! Therefore the blood levels and as its a small molecule it’ll end up in the urin.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

If you were suffering from haemolysis

A

RBC broken down at an increased rate
*haem > *unconjugate BR > *load on liver > *conjugated BR > *urobilinogen

So there will be an increase in urobilinogen in the urine, but not of conjugated BR, UNLESS there is a blockage!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How could Hepatitis/cancer affect bilirubin metabolism, what would you see?

A

If we have a process that affects flow, eg) a mass, then BR cannot flow into gut, little/no urobilinogen will be present in faeces or urine.

BUT there will be increased congugated BR, that can be measured in the BS!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Causes of Jaundice : unconjugated (indirect)

A

Unconjugated (indirect)
Haemolysis : increase in precursor load
Gilberts Syndrome: issue in conjugation step, genetic variability, % population with slower conjugation and increased unconj. BR especially when system is stressed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Causes of Jaundice : conjugated (direct)

A

Within the liver itself

Cholestasis: drugs, pregnancy, thyroid disease
Obstuction in Liver: passage hindered, hepatitis (swell), cirrhosis, biliary cirrhosis, liver masses

Outside of Liver

Obstruction outside liver: gallstones, biliary/pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis
stopping bile flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

ALP?

A

Alkaline Phosphatase
-Transfer/hydrolyses phosphate groups
-wide age-related variation, as main 2 sources are the liver (doesn’t change) and bone (dependent on growth). During puberty and menopause, there’s an increase in bone turnover > ALP increases.
ALP raised in pregnancy because the placenta makes it

18
Q

Main sources of ALP

A 
Liver: biliary system (blockage)
Bone: osteoblasts (growth)
Intestine: inflammation
Placenta: late pregnancy
Tumours: in bone/lung
19
Q

When is ALP elevated with pathologys

A

All pathologies, especially
liver cancer
Gallstones

anything blocking/obstructing bile flow

20
Q

GGT

A

Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase
-Mainly biliary origin (LIVER) as well as heart, pancreas, lungs
so pathology with ANY of these can raise GGT

Causes of elevation

1) inflammation/obstruction of biliary system
2) Inducible: via specific drugs and alcohol
* *3) Fatty liver can also

21
Q

GGT and Alcohol intake

A

~2/3 of heavy drinkers have incrs. GGT (1-3x), but there are so many other causes, it’s hard to specifically blame alcohol.

Rises and falls with intake
Weekend drinking can raise by 25%
peaks 2-3days, falls over 5-6 days

Takes 6wks+ to return to normal with abstinences (1/2 falls in 2 weeks)

Chronic alcohol consumption causes scarring and eventual obstruction, so the liver may never go back to normal.

22
Q

ALT

A

Alanine Aminotransferase

  • involved in aa processing and gluconeogenesis
  • Pyruvate to OA or acetylcoA
  • is a marker of how much is getting out/into cell
  • the most liver specific test (there are other organs but would need signif. damage to show increase)
  • restricted to the cytoplasm
23
Q

AST

A

Aspartate Transaminate

  • involved in aa processing and gluconeogenesis
  • located in cytosol AND mitochondira, so with serious liver damage, both AST and ALT release, but AST will be at a higher level
  • less liver specific
  • shorter half-life than ALT (8h vs 48h)
24
Q

What pathologies elevate AST and ALT

A

most to a degree, especially

AST: Hepatitis (only early due to a shorter half-life)

ALT: Hepatitis, both early and late

25
Q

Albumin:

Concentration, source, causes of decrease?

A

35-47 g/L
Liver only source in adults

Falls with:
Lower synthesis (cirrhosis)
Increased loss (liver has to work harder)
illness (non-specific, only by a few g, common for sick patients)
redistribution (gets into interstitual fluid)

REFLECT LIVER FUNCTION

26
Q

Globulins measurement

A
  • Reflect inflammation (subacute, chronic)
  • very high levels occur with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis

REFLECT LIVER FUNCTION

27
Q

Prothrombin ratio (PR) (INR) measurement

A
  • Reflects clotting factor synthesis
    “the higher the ratio, the lower the synthesis of clotting factors”
    -Rise indicates vit K deficiency or liver failure
    -common in blood thinner users, can’t make clotting factors

REFLECT LIVER FUNCTION

28
Q

Glucose measurement

A
  • liver normally maintains fasting blood glucose
  • inability to maintain blood glucose is ominous, as the liver has a good reserve

REFLECT LIVER FUNCTION

29
Q

In a blood test, what indicates liver scarring/ declining function

A
  • persistent GGT, ALP elevation
    • AST/ALT ratio (>1)
    • globulins (IG)
  • decreased albumin
  • *bilirubin
  • *prothrombin ratio (low vit K)
  • decrease glucose
    • NH3 (toxic to the brain > hepatic enocephaly)
30
Q

CEA

A

cancer marker, some benign elevation (hepatitis, cirrhosis, ulcerative colitis, renal failure, smoking)
usually 3-5ng/ml
increase with smoking and benign disease.
>20ng/ml almost always malignant

Can be used to monitor bowel cancer

31
Q

Mildly decreased albumin

A

could just mean they are sick,, or potentially lower liver function

32
Q

If GGT and ALP and significantly elevated but the bilirubin is normal, this indicates

A

elev. GGT and ALP =
bile duct block
?stones
?masses

distal to a blockage or obstruction.
but the rest of the liver (biliary tree) is patent/normal so bilirubin is able to be processed normally.

This is concerning, indicates a random mass … cancer?

**if the blockage was in the biliary tree trunk (gallstone), no bile would get through and bilirubin would increase

33
Q

Normal AST indicates?

A

minimal liver cell inflammation

34
Q

Bilirubin levels are usually around ___, usually don’t get jaundice till ____

A

Bilirubin levels are usually around 20, usually don’t get jaundice till 40

35
Q

Change in faeces/urine colour

A

Dark urine= Bilirubin/urobilinogen escaping escaping out into urine

Light stools= no urobilinogen getting into faeces (blockage of flow)

36
Q

Typical signs of Gilberts SYndrome

A

common 3-5%

  • only mild bilirubin rise
  • Variant in BR conjugation step: the issue is with the sticking of sugar onto the unconjugated BR
  • Bilirubin-unconjugated elevated
  • other liver function tests normal
    eg) Normal enzymes (as there’s no bile duct obstruction or liver cell injury)
37
Q

Hepatitis related enzymes

A

AST and ALT

38
Q

Albumin ** low
Bilirubin ** high

GGT ** high
ALP ** high

AST * high
ALT* high

Prothrombin ratio ** high

A 
Albumin = liver isn't functioning well
Bilirubin = livers not working OR bile flow impaired

GGT & ALP= liver could be swollen, potentially damaged. Also GGT is inducible, drinking? drugs?

AST & ALP= Hepatitis/inflammation/unhappy liver.
Recent liver damage

Prothrombin ratio = low level of CF synthesis, decreased liver function

Diagnosis: Viral hepatitis, alcoholism , long standing liver disease

39
Q

Varices indicate

A

portal hypertension

40
Q

excess alcohol history, vomited blood, has oesophageal varices

Albumin ** low
Bilirubin ** high

GGT ** high
ALP ** high

AST ** high
ALT** high

Prothrombin ratio * high

A

Predominat GGT and ALP incrs (and BR)= suggests lots of scarring, a chronic issue (gallstones, cirrhosis, cancers?)

ALT and AST= moderate, ongoing inflammation

If bile ducts aren’t dilated
-alcoholic liver disease, with cirrhosis and portal hypertension (varices)
Scan would show shrunken, scarred liver

41
Q

Paracetamol Overdose: tender large liver
3days = unconcious 5days= dead

Albumin normal
Bilirubin ** high

GGT ** high
ALP * high

AST ** high
ALT**** high

Glucose * low

Prothrombin ratio * high

A

AST and ALT: to such an extreme only achieved by extreme drug toxicity (or severe viral hep). Serious acute poisining

Liver inflammation blocks glucose, bilirubin leaving
Liver function super impaired
also bilirubin proccessing could not be very good.

ALbumin normal because it’s half life is ~3weeks

42
Q

Causes of abnormal LFTs

A 
Fatty liver 45%
Viral Hep 27%
Alcohol 8%
Haemochromotosis 3%
Other s(drugs, AI) 16%

Digestive System (27 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions