Why liver Function profile is done?

Liver profile is done to check the overall health of your liver. Different parameters are often tested at the same time on a single blood sample and may include the following:

• Bilirubin total, direct and indirect
• Proteins like Albumin, globulin, A:G Ratio, serum protein
• Various enzymes like Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST/SGOT), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT/SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, Gamma-Glutamyl transferase (GGT)

Liver function tests are most often used to:

• To diagnose liver diseases, such as hepatitis
• To monitor treatment of liver disease
• Check how badly a liver has been damaged or scarred by disease, such as cirrhosis
• Monitor side effects of certain medicines

Who should do the Liver Function profile

Your doctor will advise you to do Liver function Panel if he suspects any signs of liver damage. Some of the symptoms are as follows:

• Jaundice, a condition that causes your skin and eyes to turn yellow
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Dark-coloured urine
• Light-coloured stool
• Fatigue

You may also be asked to do this test if:

• You have a family history of liver disease
• Alcohol consumption is very high
• Previous infection or have signs of hepatitis infection
• Taking any treatment that may cause liver damage

More about Liver Function profile

Other names:Liver Panel, Liver Function Panel, Liver Profile Hepatic Function Panel, LFT, Liver Profile, Liver Function Test

Liver is organ found in your abdominal cavity. Normally you can’t feel the liver, because it’s protected by the rib cage. The liver has many important functions, including digesting your food and processing and distributing nutrients.Main function of liver is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract and detoxify any harmful substances or toxins found. When the liver has broken down harmful substances, its by-products are excreted into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and leave the body in the form of feces. Blood by-products are filtered out by the kidneys, and leave the body in the form of urine.

Liver is also responsible for making proteins which are important for blood clotting.

There are many kinds of liver diseases and conditions.  E.g. hepatitis which are caused by viruses. Others can be the result of drugs or alcohol abuse or long-lasting injury or scar tissue in the liver can cause cirrhosis. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, can be one sign of liver disease.

Interpretation:

Results of liver panel test help identify liver damage and extent of it. It also provides information on overall health of the liver. If one or more parameter results are lying beyond normal range it could be sign of cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis infection, alcohol abuse, etc. You should consult your doctor to understand your report and your condition. Your doctor may ask you to perform certain additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.