What are the items in liver function test? How often should liver function test be performed?

Liver function test is an important screening method for digestive system diseases, even malignant tumors. For some people with poor gastrointestinal function, it is best to check liver function indicators regularly. As for the cycle of liver function test and the liver function test items, let's learn more about it with Guo Fengxia, deputy chief physician of Guangzhou No. 8 People's Hospital.

What are the items in liver function test?

The liver function test mainly includes three parts: bilirubin, protein metabolism and transaminase enzymatic test. The first is bilirubin test, including total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and indirect bilirubin; the second is protein metabolism test, mainly including total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin-globulin ratio; the third is transaminase enzymatic test, mainly including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bile enzymes, such as glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase.

How often should liver function tests be performed?

How often a liver function test is needed depends on the cause of liver damage and the degree of liver damage. If the transaminase is mildly or moderately elevated without jaundice, the liver damage is mild, and it is usually rechecked every 1 to 2 weeks; for severe transaminase elevation accompanied by jaundice, it may be rechecked every 3 to 4 days. If the patient's liver function is very stable after long-term treatment, it can be rechecked every 3 to 6 months.

How can liver cancer be detected?

Liver cancer can be diagnosed from three aspects: medical history, symptoms, and auxiliary examinations. The first is to check whether there is viral hepatitis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C from the medical history; the second is to check from the symptoms. Patients with liver cancer will experience pain in the liver area, which will radiate to the right shoulder and back; and they will also feel a hard mass in the upper abdomen or right upper abdomen. The third is to use auxiliary examinations, such as blood tests for alpha-fetoprotein; imaging examinations such as B-ultrasound, CT, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound angiography, hepatic artery angiography, etc.

Since many diseases of the digestive system are chronic wasting diseases, liver function tests are extremely important in physical examinations. The frequency of liver function tests depends on the patient's own condition. For some patients with impaired liver function, regular screening is necessary. In addition, if liver function is impaired, patients must pay attention to developing good living habits, quitting smoking and drinking, and eating a reasonable diet.