Knowra Liver function tests Liver function tests Liver function tests are blood tests measuring enzymes, proteins, and substances to assess liver injury, bile flow, and the liver’s ability to synthesize and process compounds.
Alanine aminotransferase : An enzyme found mainly in liver cells that enters the blood when those cells are injured. Its elevation commonly signals hepatocellular injury rather than measuring liver performance directly.
Hepatocellular pattern : A liver-test pattern in which aminotransferase elevations predominate over alkaline phosphatase elevation. It describes the pattern associated with injury to liver cells.
Liver panel : A blood-test group that commonly combines aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and related measurements. It is the usual format in which liver function tests are reported.
Liver function : The liver’s capacities to synthesize proteins, process nutrients and drugs, and produce and excrete bile. This is the broader biological capacity that only some tests directly approximate.
Aspartate aminotransferase : An enzyme present in liver, muscle, heart, and other tissues that can rise after cell injury. Its broader tissue distribution makes it less liver-specific than alanine aminotransferase.
Cholestatic pattern : A liver-test pattern in which alkaline phosphatase and often bilirubin elevations predominate. It suggests impaired bile formation or flow rather than predominantly cell injury.
Drug-induced liver injury : Liver damage caused by prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, or supplements. Liver-test patterns and their timing help identify a possible medication-related cause.
Liver enzymes : Enzymes measured in blood whose concentrations can rise when liver or other tissue cells are injured. The phrase is often used loosely for the whole panel, although enzyme levels mainly indicate injury.
Alkaline phosphatase : An enzyme found in bile ducts, bone, and several other tissues. A raised result can point toward impaired bile flow, but may also come from bone.
R ratio : A calculation comparing alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase elevations relative to their upper reference limits. It classifies a mixed abnormal panel as more hepatocellular, cholestatic, or intermediate.
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