Tests for Liver Damage

There are many types of liver tests that can be done to determine whether a patient is suffering from any kind of liver damage. The liver is responsible for many functions throughout the body such as bile production, metabolizing fats and sugars and the storage and filtering of blood. If you have concerns about your liver, you should know about the tests available to detect damage.

Symptoms

• A major symptom of liver damage is jaundice, which turns the skin and whites of the eyes yellow or orange. Some people also experience loss of appetite and trouble digesting food, which may be found because of a discoloration of stool. It becomes lighter in color and may be accompanied by aggravated or irritable bowel movements, bloating, and distension.

  Other symptoms of liver damage include headaches, mood swings, loss of flexibility, depression, skin problems, allergies, redness and itching eyes, dizziness, tinnitus, tics, spasms, tremors, sudden seizures, stroke, tension and pain in the back.

Blood Tests

• Blood tests are a common way to see if there is liver damage. These blood tests check the levels of proteins, measurements of albumin, cholesterol, liver enzymes and prothrombin time.

Enzymes

• Enzyme ALT is found only in the liver. High ALT levels in the bloodstream can indicate that the liver is swollen or damaged. Enzyme AST is found in other organs as well as the liver. High amounts in the bloodstream can signify liver trouble. Some reasons for these enzymes to be high include viral hepatitis, excessive use of alcohol, auto-immune hepatitis, heart failure and liver tumors. The enzymes GGT and ALP help regulate the production and release of bile into the body. High levels of these enzymes can indicate scarred bile ducts, alcoholic liver disease, liver tumors or gallstones.

Protein Tests

• This test measures the amount of protein in the urine. This test is also used to diagnose liver or kidney disease, blood cancer, malnutrition or abnormal swelling. Two of the main proteins that are found in blood are albumin and globulins.

Albumin

• Albumin maintains the amount of blood that is found in the veins and arteries. This is a protein made in the liver, and if the liver is damaged severely, it can no longer produce albumin. When these levels become low, fluid can leak out causing swelling in the ankles and feet.

Prothrombin

• Prothrombin is another protein made in the liver that helps to clot blood. A simple test is performed to see the time it takes for a person's blood to clot. If a person has a high prothrombin time, he is at risk for excessive bleeding. High times could be the result of blood thinners, lack of vitamin K or certain bleeding disorders.

Liver Biopsy

• There are three types of liver biopsies: percutaneous, transvenous,and laparoscopic. Percutaneous biopsies are performed by inserting a needle into the liver and extracting a sample. Transvenous biopsies are done by feeding a small tube down the jugular vein in the neck into the hepatic vein, which drains into the liver. Laparoscopic biopsies are done in a similar way to the percutaneous biopsies, only instead of extracting a sample, doctors can observe the surface of the liver through a lense known as the laparascope. Liver biopsies are done to assess damage to the liver and determine the type of liver condition present.