Term
ALT
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
10 - 35 U/L
Enzyme mainly found in liver.
Best for detecting liver damage
or liver disease. |
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Term
ALP
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
42 - 136 U/L
Enzyme found mainly in the bone & liver
(especially in cells that form bile ducts) |
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Term
AST
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
8 - 38 U/L
Enzyme found in liver, heart, & other muscles.
Helps detect and differentiate between varying forms of liver disease.
Helps diagnose recent severe heart problem.
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Term
Total Bilirubin
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
0.1 - 1.2 mg/dL
Evaluates liver damage/disease.
Helps confirm obstruction of the bile ducts.
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Term
Albumin
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
3.5 - 5.0 g/dL
Increases osmotic pressure & maintains vascular fluid
Used to screen for liver or kidney disease.
Evaluate nutritional status
(pre-albumin is better for this)
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Term
Protime
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
10 - 13 seconds
Helps to detect a bleeding disorder.
One of the coagulation factors produced by the liver.
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Term
PTT
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
60 - 70 seconds (varies in labs)
Helps to detect a bleeding disorder.
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Term
Ammonia
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
|
Definition
Normal Value:
15 - 45 mcg/dL
Compoud produced by intestinal bacteria & during digestion of protein.
Used to detect liver disorders due to inability of liver to convert ammonia to urea.
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Term
GGT
(Gamma glutamyltransferase)
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
|
Definition
Normal Value:
4 - 23 IU/L
Helps detect liver disease &/or alcohol abuse.
Used to differentiate between liver & bone disease as a cause for elevated ALP.
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Term
Total Protein
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
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Definition
Normal Value:
6.0 - 8.0 g/dL
To screen for liver & kidney disorders.
Determine nutritional status.
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Term
LDH
(Lactic Acid dehydrogenase)
What is the normal value?
Describe the lab. |
|
Definition
Normal Value:
100 - 190 IU/L
General indicator of the existence & severity of acute or chronic tissue damage.
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Term
| What causes low ALT values? |
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Definition
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Term
| What causes high ALT values? |
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Definition
- Acute Hepatitis
- Chronic Hepatitis
- Obstruction of bile ducts
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Cirrhosis
- CHF
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Term
| What causes low ALP values? |
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Definition
- Hypophosphatasia
- May occur post-blood transfusion
- May occur post-heart surgery
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Term
| What causes high ALP values? |
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Definition
- Acute or complete biliary obstruction
- Hepatitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Extensive bone metastasis
- Paget's Disease
- Healing fractures
- May also be elevated in pregnancy
- May also be elevated in growth spurts
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Term
| What causes a low AST value? |
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Definition
- Pregnancy
- DKA
- Salicylates
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Term
| What causes a high AST value? |
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Definition
- Acute viral hepatitis
- Chronic helpatitis
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
- Extensive recent surgery
- Severe muscle trauma
- Severe MI
*In alcoholic liver disease, the AST is often more elevated than the ALT* |
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Term
| What causes a low bilirubin? |
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Definition
Generally, low bilirubin is not a concern.
However, it can be caused by
Iron deficiency anemia |
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Term
| What causes high bilirubin levels? |
|
Definition
- Liver damage/disease
- Hemolytic anemia
- Obstruction of bile ducts from stones or tumors
- Hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Transfusion reactions
- Infectious mononucleosis
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Term
| What causes a low Albumin level? |
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Definition
- Liver disease
- Inflammation
- Shock
- Malnutrition
- Crohn's or Celiac's disease
- Renal disorders
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Term
| What causes a high Albumin level? |
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Definition
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Term
| What causes a decreased PT? |
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Definition
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Term
| What causes an increased PT? |
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Definition
- Prolonged with liver disease
- Prolonged with Vitamin K deficiency
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What causes an increased PTT? |
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Definition
| PTT is prolonged with liver disease. |
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Term
| What causes low Ammonia levels? |
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Definition
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Term
| What causes increased Ammonia levels? |
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Definition
- Severe liver disease
- GI bleeding
- Muscle Exertion
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Term
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Definition
| If GTT is low or normal, then an increased ALP is more likely do be due to bone disease. |
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Term
| What causes an increased GTT? |
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Definition
- Liver disease
- Congestive heart disease
- Alcohol consumption--binge drinking
*Both GTT & ALP increase in liver diseases, but ALP will be increased in conditions affecting the bone tissue, also. |
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Term
| What causes a low total protein level? |
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Definition
- Liver or kidney disorders
- Severe malnutrition
- Conditions that cause malabsorption
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Term
| What causes high total protein levels? |
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Definition
- Chronic Inflammation
- Dehydration (from hemoconcentration)
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Term
|
Definition
Elevated levels can indicate liver disease.
Many other things elevate it, as well. |
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Term
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Definition
Enzymes are normally produced by healthy tissue that is sick.
Enzymes are NOT made by dead tissue,
however. |
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Term
What causes elevated hepatic enzymes,
in general? |
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Definition
| When hepatocytes are injured from disease processes or conditions, hepatic enzymes will elevate. |
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Term
| At what percent of liver necrosis do liver functions begin to become altered? |
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Definition
| When 60% of hepatocytes are necrotic. |
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Term
What is an ominous finding in
people with severe liver disease? |
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Definition
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Term
What tests are considered part of the
liver function test/liver panel? |
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Definition
ALT, ALP, AST, Bilirubin, Albumin, & Total Protein.
May also order: GTT, LDH, PT |
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Term
| The higher the enzyme level... |
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Definition
| ...The greater the injury. |
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Term
| The longer the increase in lab level... |
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Definition
| ...the greater the injury. |
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