LECTURE - Liver Function Testing

Question 1

largest solid organ in body and only visceral organ that can regenerate

Answer 1

liver

- also double blood supply

Question 2

liver functions

Answer 2

• nutrition and energy regulation
• storage
• protein and other substance synthesis
• detoxification and excretion
• immunological function

Question 3

nutrition and energy regulation function of liver

Answer 3

• processes and redistributes nutrients from the diet
  > portal circulation delivers nutrients absorbed from the intestine
• carbohydrate metabolism
  > important role maintaining the supply of glucose for the body
• lipid metabolism
  > central role in regulating total fatty acid needs for body (glucose to fatty acids)
  > produces bile (bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipid)
  > bile acids synthesized from cholesterol (required for digestion and absorption of dietary fat and soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K)
  > excretion of waste products = bilirubin, excess cholesterol

Question 4

storage as liver function

Answer 4

• glycogen (glucose)
• fat (as triglyceride)
• minerals (iron, copper)
• vitamins (A, D, E, K)

Question 5

protein synthesis of liver

Answer 5

• 90% of plasma proteins;; ~15% of total roteins in body
• “cargo proteins” = albumin, lipoproteins, transferrin, ceruloplasmin (Cu)
• immune-related proteins = complement, acute phase reactants
• coag factors
• non-essetial amino acids (aminotransferase like ALT and AST)

Question 6

fibrosis

Answer 6

a dynamic process of ECM deposition and remodellin

Question 7

cirrhosis

Answer 7

a diffuse process of fibrosis causing alteration of lobular architecture, establishment of total hyprtenstion

Question 8

liver biopsy

Answer 8

• high risk
• taking a biopsy of liver directly from abdomen and
  bc so much blood profused to it = problematic in causing a bleed

Question 9

assessment of fibrosis

Answer 9

liver biopsy
indirect test index
transient elastography (US MRI = imaging tests)

Question 10

indirect test index

Answer 10

• clinical chemistry
• liver enzymes
• PLTs (blood tests)

Question 11

transient elastography (Us, MRI)

Answer 11

• shear wae propagates faster in stiffer material or cirrhotic tissue than elastic material (healthy tissue)