HealthcareWhat Are The Common Liver Function Tests For Successful Disease Diagnosis And Prevention?

The liver plays a huge role in food digestion and detoxification. Early stages of liver disease are usually asymptomatic or with minor symptoms, making it challenging to identify in its early stages. Damage to the liver may be life-threatening unless detected early.

Liver function tests are blood tests that are administered to patients to identify the state of health of their liver. Some useful proteins and enzymes serve as biomarkers of the patient’s health. These enzymes aid in the early diagnosis and prevention of possible liver diseases in patients.

Types of Liver Function Test

In the past, diagnosis of liver damage was more reactive than proactive, meaning that the disease would have progressed to a later stage before it could be identified. In cases like this, the condition may only be manageable rather than curable. However, using liver function tests, they can now be identified and treated at an early stage.

Fibronostics makes testing and diagnostics of possible liver failure easy. It uses a noninvasive approach to diagnose liver diseases early. It also engages in methods that are guaranteed to reduce cost and increase efficacy while effectively monitoring and managing liver diseases if they are present.

There are several types of liver function tests available, and some of the common types, according to the Pharmaceutical journal, are:

Transaminase

Two types of transaminase are present in the bloodstream – Alanine transaminase (ALT), which converts proteins to energy, and Aspartate transaminase (AST), which digest amino acids. These two are usually present in minute quantities in the bloodstream, and a sudden increase in their levels could indicate a damaged or injured liver. Further tests may need to be carried out for certainty, as these enzymes are also present in other areas such as muscles and bones, although in small quantities.

Bilirubin

When red blood cells are digested in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, it releases bilirubin. Bilirubin passes through the liver, to the intestines, and through the stool. In the stool, there are normal levels of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin present. Increased conjugated bilirubin indicates jaundice, while increased unconjugated bilirubin shows diseases like Gilbert’s syndrome and sickle cell anemia.

Alkaline phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is found in many organs in the body, including the kidney, placenta, bone, intestine, and liver, so the test is usually used in close association with other tests. In the liver, ALP is processed and released at a level by the biliary epithelium. When the biliary epithelium is damaged, the ALP level rises and floods the bloodstream. Other liver function tests include Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), Albumin and total protein, Prothrombin time (PT), L-lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and International normalized ratio (INR).

Advantages Of The Liver Function Test

The liver function test (LFT) has found its way into modern science and medicine and is here to stay. Here are a few advantages of the liver function test in modern medicine according to the Mayo Clinic

• Liver function tests can diagnose liver diseases early and set patients up for preventive care. LFTs can detect liver diseases like Hepatitis A, B, and C, diabetes, and cancer. The tests can also identify behavioral disorders like alcoholism that can put the liver at risk.
• LFTs can help monitor patients’ liver disease while testing the efficacy of a treatment plan.
• It can also display the side effects of peculiar liver treatments and medication.
• LFTs also identify the damage level of the liver, especially in patients with cirrhosis – scarring of the liver.

Prevention of Liver Disease

Technology has improved the reach and efficiency of modern science, making it easy to identify diseases and apply preventive or corrective techniques quickly. However, as the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Preventing liver diseases is your best bet, rather than working on treatment methods. These are a few ways to prevent liver diseases:

• Take only moderate levels of alcohol for your gender. Men’s bodies are more capable of handling alcohol and should take a maximum of 14 alcohol drinks per week or two per day. Women should take a maximum of seven a week, as consistent and prolonged intake of alcohol can have great adverse effects on the liver.
• Take only prescribed drugs in recommended quantities. We can almost not do without prescription drugs; however, they should be used in moderation, strictly following a physician’s orders. Always pass herbal medications through your physician. Avoid the use of alcohol while taking prescription drugs.
• Take vaccines if you are predisposed to liver diseases by genetics or family history. Take vaccines against hepatitis A and B if you have higher chances of getting the disease or if you have been previously infected. Make sure to consult with your physician, who knows your family and health history, before going ahead to prevent complications.
• Stay healthy and avoid unnecessary body weight, as obesity is a leading cause of liver damage. Keep fit, hit the gym, stay active, and live a healthy life.

Be Deliberate About Your Health

You should not take your health for granted. Avoid indulging in habits and lifestyles that are detrimental to the proper functioning of your bodily organs. Also, seek medical attention immediately if you notice something unusual about your health.

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