Liver Function Tests (LFTs)

This review is a pragmatic attempt to highlight recent research and some backround reading on LFTs. It should not be considered exhaustive, simply a way of reviewing some of the major developments and current thinking in the area.

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General Resources

• Special Considerations in Interpreting Liver Function Tests. American Family Physician, 1999
• GP Notebook
• British Liver Trust
• Lab Tests Online
• How are abnormal results for liver function tests dealt with in primary care? Audit of yield and impact. BMJ, 2001
• Liver enzyme alteration: a guide for clinicians. CMAJ, 2005

Bilirubin

• Bilirubin. Lab Tests Online
• Bilirubin. GP Notebook
• Raised bilirubin. GP Notebook
• Bilirubin reference range. GP Notebook
• Hyperbilirubinemia. Merck Manual
• Hyperbilirubinemia, conjugated. eMedicine
• Hyperbilirubinemia, unconjugated. eMedicine

Albumin

• Albumin. Lab Tests Online
• Albumin. GP Notebook
• Hypoalbuminaemia. GP Notebook
• Hyperalbuminaemia. GP Notebook
• Albumin reference range. GP Notebook
• Hypoalbuminemia. eMedicine

Alanine Transaminase (ALT)

• Mildly Elevated Liver Transaminase Levels in the Asymptomatic Patient. American Family Physician, 2005
• ALT. Lab Tests Online
• ALT. GP Notebook
• Asymptomatic raised ALT. GP Notebook
• ALT reference range. GP Notebook
• Alanine Aminotransferase Levels: What's Normal? Annals of Internal Medicine, 2002

Aspartate Transaminase (AST)

• Mildly Elevated Liver Transaminase Levels in the Asymptomatic Patient. American Family Physician, 2005
• Aspartate aminotransferase. Lab Tests Online
• Aspartate aminotransferase. GP Notebook
• Asymptomatic raised aminotransferase levels. GP Notebook
• Aspartate aminotransferase reference range. GP Notebook

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

• Alkaline phosphatase. Lab Tests Online
• Alkaline phosphatase. GP Notebook
• Raised alkaline phosphatase. GP Notebook
• Reduced alkaline phosphatase. GP Notebook
• Alkaline phosphatase reference range. GP Notebook

Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT)

• Gamma glutamyltransferase. Lab Test Online
• Gamma glutamyltransferase. GP Notebook
• Raised or high GGT. GP Notebook

Prothrombin time (PT)

• Prothrombin time. Lab Tests Online
• Prothrombin time. GP Notebook
• Prothrombin time reference range. GP Notebook

Patient Information

• Liver Function Tests. Medline Plus
• Bilirubin. Medline Plus
• Albumin. Medline Plus
• Alanine transaminase. Medline Plus
• Aspartate Transaminase. Medline Plus
• Akaline phosphatase. Medline Plus
• Gamma glutamyltransferase. Medline Plus
• Prothrombin time. Medline Plus