In the human body, the liver is the largest gland. She performs so many functions that any violation in her work has negative and far-reaching consequences. In this regard, it is necessary to regularly undergo preventive examinations and take blood tests. The liver is a vulnerable organ, but capable of regeneration, therefore it is important to detect any signs of deviations in time. It is worth noting that organ diseases are quite easily detected during a biochemical study of liquid connective tissue. And even if there are suspicions of the development of the pathological process, the doctor prescribes more specific studies to assess the condition of the liver. Blood tests to identify pathologies of this organ will be considered in the article.
Indications
Medical examinations need to be held annually. However, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible if there are disturbing symptoms that indicate a malfunction in the liver. And it doesn’t matter how long the last medical examination was completed.
The following symptoms are alarming:
- Painful or other discomfort in the right side, in the region of the lower pair of ribs. As a rule, they appear during laughter, screaming, weight lifting, sharp bends. In addition, the consumption of fatty, fried, smoked or spicy foods can provoke the appearance of unpleasant sensations. It is important to know that even slight discomfort indicates that a pathological process develops in the liver. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, you can avoid its transition to severe forms.
- Enlarged liver. This indicator is easily detected not only during ultrasound. If the liver is enlarged, the stomach begins to bulge. At the same time, other parts of the body remain unchanged, that is, a person does not gain weight. This is especially noticeable in people with lean physique.
- The presence in the mouth of an unpleasant aftertaste. This is a pretty serious symptom. If available, a liver test is required. This is due to the fact that this symptom often indicates organ pathologies that have already passed into a chronic form. Patients note that their oral cavity is constantly dry, and bitterness is felt on the tongue - a coppery aftertaste. In addition, the perception of food is changing. Eating familiar foods can lead not only to nausea, but also to vomiting.
- A sharp decrease in body weight with asthenic syndrome. Against the background of food rejection, the diet becomes very poor. Due to this, a person is rapidly losing weight. At the same time, severe irritability, drowsiness, weakness and fatigue are noted. At the same time, the degree of toxic effect due to disturbances in protein metabolism increases.
- Jaundice. In the presence of this symptom complex, it is customary to talk about the development of serious liver pathologies. A blood test in this case is prescribed in order to accurately diagnose and determine the severity of the disease. The presence of a dangerous ailment is indicated by yellowness of the skin, sclera of the eyes and mucous membranes. In addition, the person is worried about joint pain and itching.
If you have any of the above symptoms, you should contact your therapist, gastroenterologist or hepatologist as soon as possible. The specialist will conduct an examination, prescribe tests and, based on the results of the data obtained, draw up the most effective treatment regimen.
General preparation rules
Responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of the study lies not only with the laboratory, but also with the patient. In order for the results of the analysis to be as informative as possible, it is necessary to prepare:
- Biological material is given strictly on an empty stomach. This is due to the fact that the liver is directly involved in the digestive processes and eating food can significantly affect the results of the study. The last meal before the biomaterial intake should take place in 10-12 hours. Allowed to drink only clean non-carbonated water. In addition, for 3 days it is necessary to make adjustments to the diet. They suggest the rejection of fatty and spicy foods.
- For 3 days, it is necessary to completely eliminate the use of alcohol-containing drinks. Even a meager dose of alcohol significantly increases the degree of load on the liver and changes the composition of liquid connective tissue.
- For 12 hours, you must stop smoking. Even 1 cigarette will have a negative effect on the liver and contribute to distortion of the results.
- For 3 days, you need to reduce the intensity of physical activity to a minimum. In addition, it is necessary to beware in the psycho-emotional sense. It is important to avoid getting into stressful situations.
- For 7 days, you must refuse to take any medications. Moreover, the use of even dietary supplements and vitamins can affect the results of some tests. If you can’t stop taking medication for medical reasons, it is important to inform your doctor.
Immediately before blood donation, it is recommended to sit quietly for about 15 minutes. The biomaterial fence is standard and is not accompanied by the appearance of severe pain.
Blood chemistry
This is a laboratory study, the task of which is to evaluate the functioning of all body systems on the basis of available data on the ongoing metabolic processes. This blood test will show the condition of the liver, no matter how pathologies in it progress. In addition, based on the results of the study, we can conclude at what stage of development the disease is.
In each case, the amount of information required for diagnosis is different. As a rule, doctors prescribe a screening of 6 indicators to check the liver. What blood tests are needed in the future, the specialist will also tell, based on biochemistry data.
One of the clinically significant indicators is bilirubin. It belongs to the group of pigment compounds. What is bilirubin in the blood, how is it formed? At approximately equal intervals of time, the life cycle of red blood cells ends. At a certain time, hemoglobin located on the surface of red blood cells breaks down. Iron-containing protein at this point is in the liver. One of the final products of its decay is bilirubin. It has several fractions. When processed, they are excreted in the urine, feces and bile. That is, it is important to understand that bilirubin in the blood is such a substance, the presence of which is the norm.
Types of pigment compounds:
- Common. This is the entire volume in the plasma of fluid connective tissue. A blood test for total bilirubin is prescribed for suspected development of a pathological process.
- Indirect. In medicine, it is also commonly called unconjugated. This is a fraction that binds to fats and practically does not dissolve in water.
- Straight. In other words, conjugated. It is highly soluble in water.
In a biochemical blood test, indicators of total and direct bilirubin are evaluated. It is customary to talk about pathology in the event that they deviate from the norm in a big way.
For the purpose of prevention and for liver diseases, a blood test for biochemistry also implies an assessment of the following indicators:
- Alat. Alanine aminotransferase is an enzyme that produces more in the liver. Accordingly, against the background of progression of various pathologies, its concentration increases.
- AsAT. Aspartate aminotransferase is a protein molecule that is a specific marker of necrotic processes in the body.
- GGT. Gamma-glutamyltransferase is a protein whose activity increases in the presence of liver damage.
- Alkaline phosphatase. This is an enzyme that is found in many body tissues. But most of it is concentrated in the cells of the liver and biliary tract. When the structural units of these organs are destroyed, the activity of alkaline phosphatase also changes.
Normal values and interpretation of the results are described in the table below.
| Test indicator | Norm | Reasons for deviation up | Reasons for deviation downwards |
| Total bilirubin | 3.4 to 20 μmol / L | If bilirubin is elevated, it means that the liver is uniquely affected. In this case, jaundice is most often diagnosed. It can be hemolytic, parenchymal and cholestatic. In addition, if bilirubin is elevated, it means that the patient may have functional hyperbilirubin syndromes | - |
| Direct bilirubin | No more than 8.6 micromol / l | An increase may indicate the presence of: - Hepatitis (viral and toxic etiology).
- Jaundice It may be mechanical or appear during pregnancy.
- Pathology of the biliary tract.
- Oncology.
- Biliary cirrhosis.
- Functional hyperbilirubin syndromes
| - |
| AlAT | Not more than 31 units / l for women, not more than 41 units / l for men | The increased activity of the enzyme is due to the presence of the following diseases: - Myocarditis.
- Heart failure.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Hepatitis (acute viral or toxic).
- Jaundice
- Fatty hepatosis.
- Cirrhosis.
- Both primary and secondary liver cancer
| Enzyme activity can be reduced due to vitamin B6 deficiency. In addition, a deviation from the norm downwards may be due to neurotic processes or cirrhosis |
| AsAT | Not more than 31 units / l for women, not more than 37 units / l for men | The indicator may increase after a recent cardiac surgery. Other reasons for the deviation of AsAT upwards: - Rheumatic heart disease in acute form.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Thromboembolism.
- Cholestatic syndrome.
- Hepatitis.
- Acute pancreatitis.
- Liver cancer.
- The presence of metastases in the organ.
In addition, the rate rises after receiving extensive muscle injury | Most often, a deviation to the smaller side is due to a deficiency of vitamin B6, but the likelihood of necrotic processes and liver rupture cannot be ruled out |
| GGT | Not more than 32 units / l for women, not more than 49 units / l for men | - Cholestatic syndrome (both intra- and extrahepatic).
- Hepatitis, both acute and chronic.
- Pancreatitis
- Jade
- Oncopathology
| - |
| Alkaline phosphatase | From 40 to 150 units / l | Deviation of the indicator from the norm upwards may indicate the following liver pathologies: - Cholestatic syndrome.
- Hepatitis.
- Cirrhosis.
- Necrosis.
- Liver cancer
| A decrease in activity rarely indicates liver disease. Most often, it is due to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, anemia and an intoxication process that arose as a result of heavy metal poisoning |
Upon receipt of poor results, a comprehensive examination is additionally shown, which includes instrumental research methods.
Diagnosis of autoimmune liver pathologies
Under the influence of various adverse factors, it sometimes happens that the protective system of the body takes its own cells as foreign. It produces antibodies, the task of which is to destroy structures that are mistaken for pathogens. In this case, it is customary to talk about the presence of an autoimmune pathology.
Currently, the main way to detect antibodies to the body’s own tissues is the NIF method (indirect immunofluorescence). This blood test can be prescribed for cirrhosis and cholangitis.
The study is carried out as follows: a patient’s blood serum is dripped onto a tissue section with antigens. Then the laboratory assistant adds a specific compound and evaluates the result.
Interpretation of the results is not difficult. Normally, antibodies should be completely absent.
In some institutions, the ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is used in the process of diagnosing autoimmune pathologies. A value of less than 20 IU / ml is considered normal. Border indicators - from 20 to 25 IU / ml. In 90% of patients, a high titer indicates the presence of primary biliary cirrhosis.
A blood test for HBsAg (Australian antigen)
This is the most common, cheap and informative study that allows you to find out if a person is sick with hepatitis B. It is a blood test for HBsAg that is a screening test, that is, it is massively prescribed during routine physical examinations, before hospitalization, and also according to indications.
It is important to know that the study is advisable only after 6 weeks from the date of the alleged infection. If you donate blood earlier, the results will be uninformative. This is due to the fact that liver cells need a minimum of 1.5 months to process the viral particles and release them into the bloodstream.
The study is quality. That is, the result of the HBsAg assay may be positive or negative.
If the Australian antigen has not been detected, then the person is considered healthy. If HBsAg is positive, the study is done again. In this case, blood donation is not necessary; previously taken serum is used.
The presence of antigen always indicates the development of hepatitis B. In this case, the disease can be in both acute and chronic form.
Diagnosis of other types of hepatitis
Under this term, several diseases are hidden. Despite this, hepatitis is always accompanied by the occurrence of disorders in which hepatocytes cease to function normally and die.
Information on which blood tests indicate liver disease is presented in the table below.
| Type of pathology | Studies to confirm the diagnosis |
| Hepatitis A | Clinical and biochemical blood tests. In the presence of an ailment, the leukocyte count drops to a critical level. ESR, on the contrary, is greatly increased. In addition, the concentration of bilirubin and albumin is reduced. Immediately after the end of the incubation period, it is advisable to perform a PCR blood test, with which it is possible to detect antibodies to the virus |
| Hepatitis C | As with Type A, clinical and biochemical blood tests are prescribed. In addition, studies are shown on antibodies and RNA of the virus. In order to predict an indicator of the effectiveness of treatment, a study on interleukin-28B is prescribed |
| Hepatitis D and G | A general and biochemical blood test, analysis for antibodies and virus RNA are shown. |
| Hepatitis E | As in the previous case, clinical and biochemical blood tests are prescribed, as well as a study to identify specific antibodies |
Laboratory diagnosis is the main stage in identifying a pathology. It is important to know that only the absence of antibodies indicates that a person is not infected with one type or another of hepatitis. In the presence of these particles, it is customary to say that the patient is currently sick or suffered an illness some time ago.
Helminthiasis blood test
Both the liver and bile ducts are an excellent source of nutrients for parasites. Localization of the latter can be both targeted and random.
As a rule, the following types of helminths affect the liver:
- Roundworm. Against the background of their active life, the following diseases develop: cholangitis, gallstone disease, jaundice.
- Echinococcus. Larvae form parasitic cysts. Over time, they increase in size, their mass can be several kilograms. Unpleasant consequences are abscess and jaundice.
- Schistosomes. Clog capillaries localized in the organ. A logical consequence is liver failure and cirrhosis.
- Flatworms causing opisthorchiasis. Their life activity is accompanied by symptoms similar to the symptoms of cholangiohepatitis.
- Hepatic flukes. Cirrhosis and inflammation of the bile ducts - such pathologies threaten their presence in the liver.
If any alarming symptoms occur, consult a doctor. The specialist, evaluating the history and listening to complaints, will prescribe blood tests for parasites in the liver. To get the most complete information, he will draw up a referral to the following types of research:
- General blood analysis. A clinically important indicator is the concentration of eosinophils. With helminthic invasion, it rises.
- IFA. In the process of its implementation, antibodies to various types of parasites are detected.
- PCR A method for detecting worm DNA in plasma and serum of liquid connective tissue.
Currently, the most informative is the analysis by ELISA.
Research on tumor markers
The liver itself rarely becomes a source of pathology. However, metastases (secondary cancer) are very often found in it.
A specific tumor marker is alpha-fetoprotein. AFP is a protein that is synthesized in the liver. 10 ./ ( ).
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Finally
The liver is the largest gland of the human body. It performs so many tasks that any violation of its functioning inevitably leads to a deterioration in the operation of almost all systems. If any warning signs appear, consult a physician, gastroenterologist or hepatologist. Based on complaints and medical history data, a specialist will prescribe a blood test.