Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Special considerations in interpreting liver function tests.

D E Johnston1

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5271, USA.

American Family Physician
|April 30, 1999
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Re: Correction of intramural ureteral ectopia.

Australian veterinary journal·2014
Same author

Acceptance of brown-shelled eggs in a white-shelled egg market.

Poultry science·2011
Same author

Systematic review: Helicobacter pylori and the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk in patients taking aspirin.

Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics·2010
Same author

Osteoma of paranasal sinuses in a horse with inspiratory dyspnoea.

Australian veterinary journal·2002
Same author

Dog bite wounds in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 196 cases.

Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine·2002
Same author

The abdominal wall: an overlooked source of pain.

American family physician·2001
Same journal

For Post-stent Patients With Atherosclerotic Coronary Vascular Disease Who Are Taking an Anticoagulant, Adding Aspirin Worsens Outcomes.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Diagnosis and Management.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Aerobic Exercise Is the Better Exercise Modality for Knee Osteoarthritis.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Overscreening Leads to Overdiagnosis of MASLD.

American family physician·2026
Same journal

Type 2 Diabetes: Outpatient Insulin Management.

American family physician·2026
See all related articles

Interpreting liver function tests requires caution, as common tests can appear normal in serious liver conditions like cirrhosis. Understanding variations in normal ranges and potential misdiagnoses is crucial for accurate patient assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

  • Common blood liver function tests (LFTs) are widely used but present interpretation challenges.
  • Normal LFTs do not exclude significant liver disease, including chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
  • Variations in normal ranges exist based on demographics like sex, race, and body mass index.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight common pitfalls in interpreting liver function tests.
  • To discuss potential misdiagnoses related to specific liver conditions and test results.
  • To provide guidance on assessing overall hepatic function.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common liver function tests and their interpretation.
  • Analysis of specific clinical scenarios leading to misdiagnosis.
  • Discussion of demographic influences on normal test ranges.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Application of established grading systems for hepatic function assessment.

    • Main Results:

    • LFTs can be normal in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
    • Aminotransferase levels have higher normal ranges in males, nonwhites, and obese individuals.
    • Acute hepatitis can be mimicked by bile duct stones due to delayed elevation of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase.
    • Isolated, mild elevations of unconjugated bilirubin or gamma-glutamyltransferase in asymptomatic patients often do not indicate liver disease.

    Conclusions:

    • Accurate interpretation of LFTs requires awareness of their limitations and potential confounding factors.
    • Clinical context and specific test patterns are essential for correct diagnosis.
    • The modified Child-Turcotte grading system provides a method for assessing overall hepatic function using albumin, bilirubin, and prothrombin time.