The liver performs many important functions to maintain normal human activity.
1) This is a filter that cleanses the body of toxins, medications and alcohol pass through it.
2) The liver synthesizes proteins, which, in particular, are responsible for blood coagulation.
3) The liver also stores carbohydrates, which can be spent in case of stress or a critical situation.
4) This huge gland produces bile acids, which are needed to process the fats we eat.
These are its main functions. In fact, the list is much larger. What tests to pass to check the liver should tell you your doctor, based on your situation. It's one thing if you want to undergo a routine check, another thing - you have yellowness of your skin, darkened urine, sore right under the rib, blood does not stop for a long time after an injury.
Basic liver tests called liver tests. They can be taken in the clinic at the place of residence or in a paid laboratory (on an empty stomach). The results should be evaluated by a general practitioner (or infectious disease specialist). It is on the basis of these indicators, if they are not normal, the specialist says which tests to pass to check the liver. An additional list of studies will help clarify the picture!
So, the main indicators of liver tests:
1. Albumin. This is a protein produced in the liver. Its norm is 65-85 grams per liter of blood. If it is below 60, then you need to carry out treatment in a hospital.
2. Bilirubin. This is a product of the metabolism of hemoglobin from red blood cells. It is general, direct and indirect. Usually laboratories determine the general, and only one of its fractions.
Total bilirubin has a norm of up to 18.5 mmol / liter. An increase in its quantity requires further clarification of the cause. The doctor tells the patient what tests to take to check the liver additionally.
Indirect bilirubin (norm 2.5-13, 8 μmol / L, or not more than 75% of the total) should be evaluated in conjunction with total bilirubin. If necessary, direct bilirubin can be calculated . This is necessary in order to distinguish liver disease from a disease with increased decay of red blood cells: if both the general and indirect indicators are higher than normal, then, most likely, the pathology is in red blood cells. If the total is increased due to direct bilirubin, then you need to look for a disease of the liver or biliary tract. In this situation, the following analysis helps.
3. ALT (alanine aminotransferase). This enzyme talks about liver health. If it is more than 0.6 IU / l * min (there are other units), this indicates inflammation of the liver itself. Such situations can be with toxic hepatitis (with poisoning by poisons, mushrooms, drugs, alcohol), cirrhosis, viral hepatitis.
Sometimes ALT is evaluated in conjunction with AST. This helps to distinguish heart muscle disease (then ALT also rises, but this correlates with an increase in AST) from liver disease.
If there are deviations in these indicators, the doctor (and not the laboratory assistant) should tell you what tests to pass in order to check the liver additionally.