The Liver Function Test (LFT) If you've just undertaken your very first LFT, this brief note may help you to understand it a little better..

[L4LSarah]

This test usually consists of up to six separate elements – the results of which will assist in diagnosis. However, the term "liver function test" is misleading, because it can measure possible hepatocellular damage (temporary or permanent), rather than liver function.

The LFT should consist of all of the following:

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Albumin

Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)

Bilirubin

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

The reference ranges for these tests are not standardised, which means that each laboratory may have contrasting reference ranges, due to the analysers they use.

It is therefore important that you only compare your results in correlation to the reference ranges provided alongside your results. If you have some results from a previous test, and analysed at a different laboratory, you will probably notice that the reference ranges aren’t exactly the same.

So, you should never look at the results of one test, and then the reference ranges of another.

If some of the results fall outside the reference range, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that you have a liver problem, but further tests should be called to determine what has caused the ‘abnormal’ result.

There are many, many reasons and causes as to ‘why’ some of the results don’t fall within their reference ranges, and it is up to the Health Professional to decide what further action needs to be taken.

Because some of the enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, are found in other organs apart from the liver, it could be that the cause of some abnormal blood results are due to a problem with e.g. the heart, or the kidneys, rather than the liver.

It is also important to understand that the liver can become inflamed due to e.g. an injury to the body, medication, and an infection anywhere in the body. In the case of the latter, once the infection has left the body, the liver inflammation will subside. N.B The alanine aminotransferase levels increase when the liver is inflamed.

Interpreting results from a LFT can be quite a challenge, and sometimes it may be necessary to undertake many other blood tests to establish the root cause of the problem - meaning that the diagnosis is often made after a long process of elimination.

If you have any concerns over your results, then I would advise you to speak further to your Health Professional, or if you have any general questions regarding the LFT, please feel free to contact me - either through HealthUnlocked or at: [e-mail]

[H1ghtower]

Ive never heard the ascites thumb test mentioned on any site or documentary, but, my gp did one and more or less guaranteed it was cirrhosis based on that and he was proven right. Its where you press your thumb on the calf firmly for a few seconds and if its ascites it leaves an indentation which bounces back to original state in about 3 secs plus depending on how much fluid is there. It doesnt happen with fat at all apparently and it doesnt work on stomach. It doesnt tell if liver is damaged just that it is fluid which narrows down the the possable causes. With me being an alcoholic at the time it was an easy diagnosis after that which could of taken months if the hospital where involved.

Does anyone know where to get the donor cards from these days. They where everywherewhen i was a kid. I was wondering if it was possable to send them out to every single person on uk electoral roll. The amount of liver donations alone would increase maybe tenfold don,t you guys think? The stumbling block would the amount of funding required for the surgery but i cant see a politician coming up with an excuse not to save lives that would be credable to the average member of public. It would certainly force them to address the issue at least. They wouldnt even need to pay if a charity like yours or blt paid the printing costs. Ive only just thought of it so i havent taken it further yet but will if anybody agrees its worth a shot.

[AyrshireK in reply to H1ghtower]

You can sign up to join the UK NHS organ donor register at organdonation.nhs.uk/ . Every new, replacement driving licence and car tax registration normally advertises it too.

This year Wales has become the first of the UK countries to make it 'opt out' - all suitable organs will be donated unless the deceased person opted out of the scheme. The Scottish Parliament is currently discussing a change to the situation there in the hope of introducing the opt out system rather than the voluntary opt in.

People who are on the register should make sure their donation wishes are discussed with next of kin because sadly when it comes time for donation a great many peoples wishes are being over ridden by relatives resulting in organs going to waste and sadly a high number of deaths of those waiting for transplant of all organs.

The NHS Organ Donation Register is consistently advertised, there have been various programmes on tv, they have a website page and in September there will be the big push again through the Transport Week. About this time countless transplanted athletes will be taking part in the UK Transplant Games in Newcastle.

Katie

[H1ghtower in reply to AyrshireK]

Thats telling me. I havent watched the news for years so all i know is from when i had a donor card you put in your wallett and ive never noticed it since. I like the opt out idea...are they gonna back up the extra organs with an appropriate increase in surgical expenses too? Its gonna cost a fortune in transplant surgery costs if as successful as its bound to be or is it a case of dealing with the project first before the costs have been authorised? I,m not very knowledgeable in politics or council ive been told so sorry for the naivety.

[Bolly in reply to H1ghtower]

Ha ha I dont think they would harvest the organs without a donor ready and waiting H1tower, so its not like there would be lots of spare body parts in hospital freezers or whatever!

Good point about the cost though.

I think the benefit of an opt out rather than opt in is that there would be more healthy perfect organs to choose from so the recipient would hopefully have a better survival chance. Apparently the young healthy donors that the docs used to get due to no seat belts and young men killing themselves in road traffic accidents, the number dropped dramatically with the introduction of seat belts. So now donor organs more likely come from someone with underlying health conditions who die in hospital and are less than perfect, hence patients like Pear's husband having less than immediate success with their transplanted organ.

[Bolly in reply to H1ghtower]

If the pressure is applied to your calf (leg) then they are testing for oedema which is fluid retention in the body tissue, usually legs feet and ankles. Oedema can be caused by all sorts, being overweight, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.

It can be caused by liver disease, but its usually the fluid sort of sloshing around in the space between the lining of the abdomen and the organs that is a more typical symptom of decompensated liver cirrhosis - that's the one called ascites and the one they can drain.

[H1ghtower]

I know, sweetheart, i went from 13 stone to 23 stone in less than a year and then a couple of hospital drains later lasting 2 months and 3 months of water tablets i was still stuck with cirrhosis obviously (i am now child A) but back to 14 stone. The thumb thing was useful as it gradually reduced proportionately with the weight loss so i had a constant physical reminder each time the indentation was less responsive. I was more active back then though when weiged down with the extra 10 stone of fluid and i was a child c the specialist said at the time. Im a now according to a blood test now and 14 stone but never leave the house and walking downstairs is sometimes a challenge. Im never out of breath so i reckon its probably atrophy possably (i dont know atrophy is but it sounds intelligent right, lol) . Anyway thanks for the info Bollie, i did actually think they where put in freezes for years and was gonna ask if some countries could and do sell off the spare organs to other countries for money but youve saved me the embarrassment. Cheers.

[Bolly]

Some donated tissue can be frozen. There was a really good series of TV programmes on BBC3 a while back called The Human Tissue Squad where they followed teams who harvest weird and wonderful body parts like ligaments and valves, skin and bone. These I think can be frozen, stored and used when required. Its the organs like lungs, hearts, kidneys and livers where there is a time limit - I assume basically the organ still has to have a blood/oxygen flow through it. bbc.co.uk/programmes/b061b158 Fascinating stuff, not sure how much of our body parts will still be useful, most of me is falling apart, lol, though I still carry a donor card just in case some tiny morsel like a cornea might be useful.

[liveronmymind]

I love the underlying humour in these posts! Priceless!

Sorry if I pop up here there and everywhere but as I have a Liver on my mind I love reading up on what everyone is saying and doing!

Greetings! and Bolly you cheered me up earlier! thanks! x