Is a liver function test a "catch-all" test?

[Moorland1]

Is it possible for scans to uncover a liver problem despite liver function test results being within "acceptable parameters"?

[AyrshireK]

Yes sadly it is still possible to have liver issues even with normal liver function tests. It's possible to have liver damage where LFT's won't won't be elevated or reduced since it's the remaining working bits of the liver which emit most of the substances tested for in Liver Function Tests. If the liver isn't presently inflamed then you won't have elevated inflammation markers like AST, ALT.

My hubby has stable/compensated cirrhosis at present with no ongoing inflammation and his LFT's regularly return as within normal range.

Hopefully this isn't the case in your situation but it is possible.

Fingers crossed you get answers from your consultant very soon after your various scan.

All the best, Katie

[Garyvh]

Yes it's possible, and not unusual.

My latest LFTS were back to normal range after having alcoholic hepatitis last year.

However I still have cirrhosis.

The liver can continue functioning even when badly damaged, unfortunately this is why many cases of liver damage are caught quite late, when symptoms begin to appear.

[Julie8]

Yes you can have cirrosis like me. It’s so annoying when medical professionals happily say your liver function is normal. Expecting you to be pleased.

[Hidden]

Agree to all replies. The bugger with liver disease (even in cirrhosis) is LFT tests can show normal blood results. If a simple rule can always be remembered; that Liver function and Liver state are two different things than this can always be understood. Unfortunately most GP doctors will say a liver is fine when the LFT are normal. A possible mistake that a proper specialist like a hepotologist would know better not to make.

It's one of the things I find continuously frustrating when it comes to these fibro scans as well. It's becoming quite clear and more acknowledged that inflammation can drastically skew the KPA score upwards. Resulting in a lot of people being told they have cirrhosis when they do not. Again a mistake a good hepotologist that's up on current studies knows better than to make the mistake of. In fact a hepotologist would never diagnose cirrhosis based on one lft or scan anyways. That diagnosis should be reserved for when the whole clinical picture points to it and urther points to it continuously over time.