Liver Function Test

[D30417995]

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Sometimes I find it quite tricky to interpret LFT results. Do you guys know of any good resources with practice questions on LFT interpretation?

By the way, what is the significance of CK-MB?

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Ck-mb = Mi

 

[Idiopathic]

AST>ALT with both elevated - alcoholic hepatitis
ALT>AST with both elevated - viral hepatitis
GGT - marker of abuse, biliary obstruction/inflammation
ALP - biliary obstruction/inflammation, reactive bone formation

You can pretty much fit everything you need to know in there

CK is specific for muscle, CK-MB is more specific for cardiac muscle, its elevation above 6% of total CK (or something like that) is indicative of severe cardiac muscle damage.

So...+++CK could be rhabdo, renal failure, MI, etc
+++CK-MB is pretty specific for MI

 

[Thespartacus]

Not that it's a LFT, but to round out the discussion on MI markers...

Cardiac-specific isomers of both Troponin I and Troponin C are currently used routinely for a more sensitive and specific for MI. This allows you to rule out rhabdomyolysis. CK-MB is better for MI in the acute phase only.

Also, plasma INR and PTT/PT time may indicate abnormal liver function, though idiopathic's LFT list are the most important ones.