Liver enzymes Flashcards

1
Q

what is a rise in ALT indicative of?

A

direct damage to hepatocytes & Liver

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2
Q

where is ALT released into? how can it be measured?

A

released into plasma, can be measured via blood test (specific to liver)

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3
Q

what will plasma ALT be raised?

A

viral hepatitis, ischaemia, hypoxic injuries

all direct damage to liver

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4
Q

what will AST be raised? (aspartate transaminase - transamination, oxaloacetate to aspartate)

A

released when hepatocytes injured, not specific to liver though, can be from cardiac & skeletal muscles as well

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5
Q

what does an increase in both ALT and AST mean?

A

hepatocyte injury

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6
Q

what does the AST:ALT ratio determine?

A

what is causing liver damage - but not reliable

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7
Q

what does AST:ALT >2 mean?

A

alcoholic liver disease

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8
Q

what does AST:ALT <1 mean?

A

viral course

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9
Q

where is ALP released from? is it specific to liver?

A

within bile canaliculi

not specific to liver

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10
Q

what does an increase in ALP mean? (Alkaline phosphatase)

A

increased when there is a blockage in the drainage of the biliary system due to stone in common bile duct, or intrahepatic cause

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11
Q

where is ALP released into?

A

plasma

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12
Q

when else is ALP increased aside from blockage in drainage of biliary system??

A

when direct damage to bile canaliculi
metastatic tumour inifltrating this area can also release ALP
in bones, bone disease / Paget’s disease

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13
Q

when is gamma GT (glutamyl transpeptidase) released?

A

enzyme increased in colicystic damage, if increase with ALP then confirm diagnosis

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14
Q

when else is gamma GT increased aside from colicystic damage?

A

alcoholic toxicity

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15
Q

what is albumin indicative of?

A

protein specifically produced by liver

decrease in albumin = liver not functioning properly

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16
Q

what will decrease in albumin levels lead to?

A

peripheral oedema & ascites

17
Q

what does prothrombin time measure?

A

measure of 1 pathway of coagulation as liver produces several clotting factors

18
Q

what does an increase in prothrombin time (PTT) indicate?

A

damage to liver - not able to produce clotting factors in sufficient quantities

19
Q

when is bilirubin released? (production)

A

when Hb breaks down, taken to liver to be coagulated (to become soluble), excreted as component of bile

20
Q

what results in bilirubin reabsorbed into plasma?

A

damage of liver, bilirubin tree / flow of bile to small intestine disrupted

21
Q

what is an increase in plasma bilirubin called?

A

hyperbilirubinaemia

22
Q

what does hyperbilirubinaemia lead to?

A

jaundice