Fatty Liver

The liver creates various chemicals that are carried out to the bloodstream. Therefor, a liver function blood test is playing a key part in diagnosing many liver disorders and diseases, including a Fatty Liver.

Elevated levels of these chemicals may indicate a damage to the liver or a specific liver disease.

By taking liver function blood tests we can measure their levels, and try to identify the problem even before its symptoms start to show up.

This liver function blood tests requires to fast for at least 6 hours before the test.

Some drugs can affect the results, so please consult with your physician regarding any drug you use regularly.

Liver function blood tests usually include the following tests:

• ALT (also called SGPT / Alanine Transaminase) – this is an enzyme that assists proteins to process. High level of ALT may suggest a liver injury. The normal levels of ALT is around 5-40 units per liter (range can vary in different labs).
• AST (also called SGOT) – an enzyme that is located mainly in liver cells. Its levels are usually raised when there is some sort of a liver damage or injury (just like ALT). The normal levels of AST is between 5-45, which is very similar to ALT enzyme.
• ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) – related to the biliary tract. If ALP is elevated, and high levels of alkaline phosphatase been found in the bloodstream, the cause might be a liver disorder (including a fatty liver). Normal rate of ALP is 44-147 units per liter.
• GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase) – an enzyme that is mostly found in the liver, kidneys, heart, and other important organs. The normal rates of GGT is between 40 to 78 units per liter. It’s very similar to ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase), so in that respect, elevated GGT can a symptom of a liver disorder. The difference is that elevated ALP can be also be because of a bone disease, but GGT can’t.
• Albumin – this is the core protein created by the liver, that passes into the bloodstream. The capability to make albumin (and many other proteins) is influenced in various liver disorders, including a fatty liver. Normal levels of albumin is between 3.4 to 5.4 deciliter.
• Bilirubin – this chemical is a direct result of hemoglobin when its released – the molecule that ties oxygen into the red blood cells. The causes of elevated bilirubin could be a liver disorder. High level of biliribin also makes you jaundiced (yellow colored), and could affect your skin and eye color. In the bilirubin blood test, there are various types of bilirubin used:
  • Direct Bilirubin (unconjugated bilirubin) – passes through the liver. Normal level of direct bilirubin is between 0 to 0.3 deciliter.
  • Indirect Bilirubin (conjugated bilirubin) – doesn’t pass through the liver. Normal level of Indirect bilirubin is between 0 to 0.3 deciliter.
  • Total Bilirubin – this is the total amount of direct + indirect bilirubin. Normal level of total bilirubin is between 0.3 to 1.9 deciliter.
• A/G ratio – the ratio of albumin to globulins. Some liver disorders could lead to a low total protein levels. Normal levels of A/G is below 1 deciliter.

Tags: ALT, Blood Test, Diagnosis, GGT, Liver Enzymes