Liver function tests are blood tests that measure the amount of different substances produced by the liver, including proteins, enzymes and bilirubin. High or low levels of these substances can indicate various diseases such as fatty liver. LLC We are going to explain the fatty liver test and how it is done.

Fatty liver test in blood test

Liver function tests are blood tests that measure the amount of various substances that the liver produces. These measurements give your doctor important information about the overall health of the liver and how it is working. The most common liver tests include:

• Hepatic enzyme tests: Liver enzymes include alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Elevation of these enzymes usually indicates liver damage.
• Total protein test: This test measures the amount of protein in the blood... the liver produces protein and a decrease in protein levels can indicate poor liver function.
• Bilirubin test: Bilirubin is a waste substance that is transferred by the liver to the bile.
• LDH test: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in many body tissues, including the liver.
• Prothrombin time (PT) test: This test shows how long it takes for blood to clot.. This process requires proteins produced by the liver.

Next, you can see the picture of fatty liver test sheet:

Abbreviation of fatty liver in the test

When talking about fatty liver abbreviated sign in blood test, it means check the level of liver enzymes like ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) and GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase). In fact, there is no such thing as fatty liver and blood sign.. The same liver function monitoring parameters that may indicate liver under certain conditions. be fatty.. In general, an increase in the level of these indicators is the main sign of liver damage, and only when their increase in a blood test helps to diagnose fatty liver and is associated with clinical symptoms.

Fatty liver test table

A fatty liver doctor uses a series of blood tests to check the health of the liver and diagnose its possible damage, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These tests help check the status of liver enzymes, the level of protein production, blood clotting ability, and the level of waste removal by the liver.

In the investigation of fatty liver, usually only some liver function tests such as ALT, AST and GGT are examined... because these enzymes may increase in the early stages of the disease... other indicators such as albumin, PT and bilirubin are more useful in advanced stages or to differentiate from other liver diseases.

It should be noted that some of the tests on the liver function panel are not directly used to diagnose fatty liver, but your doctor may order them to check for other causes of liver damage or to rule out other diseases. The following table shows the most important components of the liver function test for the clinical application of each:

What diseases does the liver test identify?

The amount and ratio of different substances in liver function tests can help the doctor to diagnose:

• Do you have liver inflammation (hepatitis) or not?
• Is this inflammation caused by alcohol consumption or non-alcoholic and metabolic such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
• Is there a problem in the liver itself or the bile duct.
• Is the function of the liver impaired and if there is a disorder, how severe is it.
• Is the flow of bile reduced and if it is reduced, what is its intensity.
• Have the medications you are taking damaged your liver and if so, to what extent.

Among the diseases that can be diagnosed with the help of this test are:

• Non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver
• Toxic or medicinal hepatitis
• Viral hepatitis (A, B, C)
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Wilson's disease (copper accumulation)
• Hemochromatosis (iron accumulation)
• alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
• Liver cirrhosis
liver cancer

How is the fatty liver test done?

To check liver health and diagnose diseases such as fatty liver, a fatty liver doctor will ask you to take a blood test... In this test, a small amount of blood is taken from your arm vein and sent to the laboratory for examination... In the laboratory, the level of various substances such as liver enzymes and proteins is checked...

It is recommended to fast during the fatty liver test... especially when this test is prescribed together with blood sugar or lipid testing... One of the most important questions that people ask They ask about this test, how many hours should we fast for the fatty liver test?. It is generally recommended that the patient fast between 8 and 12 hours before the test.

Conditions before fatty liver test

Before performing the fatty liver test, it is necessary to observe the following points:

• It is best to fast for 8 to 12 hours, especially if blood sugar or blood lipids are to be checked at the same time.
• Avoid eating alcohol and fatty or heavy foods the night before the test.. because it may affect the results.
If you are taking medication, inform your doctor.. because some medications affect liver enzymes.
• Avoid heavy exercise 24 hours before the test.. because it may cause a temporary increase in liver enzymes and change the test results.
• Stress and lack of sleep may also affect some results...so get enough sleep the night before.
• If you have diseases such as diabetes or thyroid problems, be sure to inform your doctor.. because these conditions can affect the interpretation of fatty liver test results.

Can the degree of fatty liver be determined in a blood test?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is divided into degrees or "grades" based on the amount of fat accumulation in liver cells (steatosis) and the degree of inflammation or fibrosis. The degrees of fatty liver are:

• Grade 1: In Grade 1 or mild fatty liver, about 5 to 33% of liver cells contain fat... This stage is usually asymptomatic and can be treated with lifestyle modifications.
• Grade 2: In grade 2 or moderate fatty liver, the amount of fat cells reaches 33 to 66%. Diet modification can help reduce grade 2 fatty liver.... For example, breakfast for grade 2 fatty liver should include low-fat protein, whole-wheat bread, fresh and low-fat vegetables.
• Grade 3:In grade 3 fatty liver, more than 66% of the liver cells are fatty and the risk of progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and finally cirrhosis increases.

Note that determining the degree of fatty liver is mostly done through methods such as imaging (sonography or fibroscan) or tissue sampling (biopsy), not just based on blood test results.

Although definitive diagnosis of fatty liver is only possible with specialized tests and imaging.. but some external and clinical symptoms can be an alarm for the possibility of contracting this disease... For example, fatty liver can be detected by identifying symptoms such as abdominal obesity (increased waist circumference), chronic fatigue, a feeling of heaviness in the right side of the abdomen, darkening of the armpit skin or weight gain, and> at home..

Also remember that proper nutrition plays an important role in controlling and reducing the severity of the disease.... If you are asking what to eat for fatty liver?... You should know that a diet rich in fiber, antioxidants and healthy fats can help improve liver function. does.

Diagnosis of fatty liver by blood test or ultrasound

Diagnosis of fatty liver disease is usually done with a combination of clinical evaluation, blood tests, and imaging.. Blood tests alone cannot determine the presence or severity of fatty liver.. But they can help identify symptoms of fatty liver.. Also, indirect indicators such as increased triglycerides, cholesterol, blood sugar, or insulin resistance are also associated with fatty liver and should be investigated.

In addition to prescribing tests, abdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive and common method for diagnosing fatty liver and determining its degree... But in cases where the doctor suspects more advanced damage, more accurate methods such as fibroscan (elastography) or liver biopsy are used.

At this stage, it is very important for the patient to familiarize himself with the concepts of liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.... If you are curious to know what liver fibrosis is, you can read the relevant article on GCORP LLC.... We also have an article on the GCORP LLC website entitled What is liver cirrhosis, which provides useful information about this stage of the liver.

Read the Fatty Liver test on the test sheet

When you get your fatty liver test results on the test sheet, there are different values ​​listed for different substances measured in your blood...but what do these numbers really mean? Reading a fatty liver test requires specialized knowledge and should be done by a fatty liver doctor. The doctor will review the results thoroughly and explain what each number means and how it should be interpreted.

What is the normal range of fatty liver in the test?

Normal values ​​for a fatty liver test may vary slightly depending on gender, height, and even the lab that examines the sample.. But, the natural ranges are as follows:

Remember that a normal range in blood tests indicates the absence of clear signs of severe liver damage or inflammation.. But this alone is not enough to rule out diseases such as fatty liver or fibrosis... Therefore, the doctor makes a more accurate diagnosis based on the history, clinical symptoms and imaging methods.

Interpretation of blood test for fatty liver

The most important enzymes that are checked in the liver function test are ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase). In fatty liver disease, ALT usually increases more than AST. The normal values ​​of ALT are about 0 to 45 units per liter (IU/U/L) between this milliliter (IU/U/L) and 3.5 milliliters. Enzymes They can be a mild sign of inflammation... if both ALT and AST increase... but if the ratio of AST/ALT remains less than one, the probability of non-alcoholic fatty liver is higher... while if AST is higher than ALT and their ratio is greater than 2, the possibility of liver damage due to alcohol consumption is raised.

Among other useful blood indicators in the investigation of fatty liver, we can mention the level of triglycerides, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, insulin and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Many patients with fatty liver have metabolic symptoms related to high blood fat, diabetes or pre-diabetes and the possibility of abdominal obesity.. More specialized tests such as the ratio of AST to platelets (FIB-4) or APRI index Estimation of the severity of liver fibrosis used... As mentioned, in advanced stages, liver damage may lead to fibrosis or cirrhosis, in which results such as decreased albumin, increased bilirubin and increased prothrombin time (PT) are observed.

Keep in mind that currently, no fatty liver medication is specifically approved by the World Drug Organization.. But in certain cases, the doctor may prescribe drugs to reduce blood lipids, insulin resistance or liver inflammation.

Can fatty liver be detected in a blood test?

Blood test is one of the important tools in evaluating liver health and can help in early detection of liver damage, screening of people at risk and monitoring the progress or improvement of liver diseases. But it should be noted that a blood test alone is not enough to definitively diagnose fatty liver.

The level of liver enzymes such as ALT and AST may increase in some patients with fatty liver.. but these indicators lack high sensitivity.. For example, in cases where a person has metabolic risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or increased triglycerides.. but the test results are within the normal range, the presence or absence of fatty liver cannot be confirmed or rejected based on blood tests alone.

Therefore, the interpretation of blood test results should be done along with imaging methods such as abdominal ultrasound or fibroscan (transient elastography). These methods are able to identify different degrees of fatty liver and investigate the possibility of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis that occurs in the advanced stages of the disease. Also, blood tests help to identify and diagnose various liver diseases. but alone cannot replace more accurate methods such as imaging or biopsy... the simultaneous use of laboratory data, imaging and clinical evaluation is the key to correct diagnosis and immediate treatment of fatty liver.

Summary

Fatty liver is one of the most common liver diseases, which often starts without specific symptoms and can only be diagnosed by performing blood tests and imaging... Although fatty liver tests can help identify early liver damage... However, a definitive diagnosis and determining the severity of the disease requires more detailed examinations such as ultrasound, fibroscan, or biopsy.

If you see suspicious symptoms or have risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or high blood lipids, for a more detailed examination and specialized tests, be sure to consult a fatty liver doctor or gastroenterologist and liver specialist... Early follow-up can prevent the disease from progressing to more dangerous stages such as fibrosis or cirrhosis.. The best gastroenterologist and liver specialist in person or online gastroenterologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: clevelandclinic | mayoclinic