Lab tests
Bilirubin: what it is and what a high level means
High bilirubin can be due to hemolysis, Gilbert syndrome, bile duct obstruction or liver disease. How to interpret this test based on its pattern.
Lab tests
What transaminases, bilirubin, GGT and other liver tests mean.
Lab tests
Albumin: what a low level means
Albumin is a protein made by the liver. Here is what this blood test measures, why albumin drops in cirrhosis and what other causes it can have.
Lab tests
Prothrombin time and INR
Prothrombin time and INR measure blood clotting and reflect liver function. Why they change in liver disease and what their values mean.
Lab tests
High alkaline phosphatase: what it is and why it rises
High alkaline phosphatase usually reflects a problem of the liver or bile ducts (cholestasis), but also of bone. What it means and how it is evaluated.
Lab tests
GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase)
GGT is an enzyme that rises with cholestasis, alcohol and certain drugs. What a high GGT means and when it is actually worth worrying about.
Lab tests
Liver biopsy: what it involves and when it is needed today
A liver biopsy takes a small sample of the liver to assess damage and fibrosis. It is used less often today because noninvasive tests can estimate it without a needle.
Lab tests
Liver enzymes (ALT and AST): what they mean and what to do
Liver enzymes or aminotransferases ALT and AST: what they are, why they rise, their ranges and patterns, and what to do if your blood test shows them high.