Tests in liver diseases

> Medical interview and physical examination

> Laboratory tests in liver diseases

> Imaging examinations in liver diseases

> Invasive liver examinations – biopsy and laparoscopy

Doctors have a broad array of diagnostic tools useful in liver disorders – even if they give rather uncharacteristic symptoms. They may conduct a traditional interview and perform a palpation examination (applying touch and pressure) and may order blood and serum analyses, imaging examinations or a biopsy.1 

Medical interview and physical examination

A doctor who suspects a liver disease determines the diagnosis on the basis of an interview – obtaining information about past disorders, received medicines and supplements, quantities of consumed alcohol. Many persons with a diseased liver do not experience any symptoms or their symptoms are rather uncharacteristic. When conducting the interview, your doctor may ask you about such symptoms as:1,2

Feeling tired and weak

Appetite loss

Nausea

Abdominal pain

Itching of your skin

Your doctor will check if you do not have jaundice – yellow-coloured skin and sclera (the white part of your eye), if your stools is pale, white or tarry black. During the physical examination, your doctor may initially evaluate the size of your liver, and order an ultrasound examination to confirm it.1

Laboratory tests in liver diseases

The useful diagnostic tests are:1

  • peripheral blood count,
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP – inflammation markers,
  • levels of aminotransferas - ALT, AST,
  • cholestasis indicators = Alk phos, GGTP, bilirubin,
  • lipid levels,
  • immune tests for viral infections (hepatitis B and C, infectious mononucleosis, CMV).

Additional, more targeted diagnostic tests may include:

  • the presence of antibodies typical for autoimmune disorders,
  • evaluation of bile duct patency – endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cholangio-MRI,
  • assessment of heart function – an echocardiographic examination,
  • liver biopsy.

The basis of biochemical diagnostic work-up is testing blood plasma markers that are used for the assessment and monitoring of liver diseases. When analysing the results of laboratory tests, the doctor checks not only the absolute values but also their relations. Elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) may suggest an injury to hepatic cells. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos) are in turn sensitive indicators of cholestasis; their elevated levels may also reflect alcohol abuse. On the other hand, a decreased level of albumins may indicate decreased ability of the liver to synthesise proteins.3

For more information about ALT and AST, read more there

MANY PEOPLE WITH LIVER DISEASE EXPERIENCE LITTLE OR NO SYMPTOMS

Imaging examinations in liver diseases

The ultrasound scan (ultrasonography) is one of the basic methods of imaging examinations of the liver. It enables evaluation of the following parameters:4

  • liver dimensions,
  • homogeneity of structure of the liver parenchyma,
  • the presence of focal lesions (tumors, cysts). 

Doppler ultrasound can be used to additionally visualise flows in blood vessels.

A fairly new examination is elastography that uses ultrasound to assess elasticity of the liver tissue that is decreased in the case of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.5

 

Invasive liver examinations – biopsy and laparoscopy

In some cases, biopsy is necessary to determine the diagnosis, assess the disease stage or take a decision about the therapeutic management; biopsy means collecting with a needle a small sample of the liver tissue that is subsequently assessed under a microscope.6  

The most thorough form of liver examination is laparoscopy. This procedure is conducted under general anaesthesia, exceptionally with topical anaesthetics. It enables the examiner to directly view a large part of liver surface and the gallbladder. During the laparoscopic procedure, it is also possible to collect biopsy specimens for analysis.7 

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Choose the right pack size to fit your needs and find about the differences between Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P). 50s and Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P). 10s

Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P) 10s

CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Indications
Nutritional support in the management of damaged liver (due to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver & intoxication by hepatotoxic substances). Each hard gelatin capsule contains: De-oiled enriched phospholipids from soya-beans …………… 300 mg

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Phospholipids (Essentiale Forte P) 50s

CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Indications
Nutritional support in the management of damaged liver (due to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver & intoxication by hepatotoxic substances). Each hard gelatin capsule contains: De-oiled enriched phospholipids from soya-beans …………… 300 mg

Read more

Learn more about what supports or harms your liver

Golden rules for a healthy liver diet

A liver diet is a more continuous and systematic mode of care for the liver. It’s all about keeping the intake of carbohydrates and fats at a low level and concentrating on eating more proteins instead. If we wish to keep our liver healthy, we should also avoid frying foods and consuming alcohol.

Read more

Products that support liver detox

A liver detox is a preventive measure that we should take only once a year to maintain a healthy liver.1 It should take ideally around eight weeks and we should base it on four to five small fresh meals during the day. The prepared food should be served raw if possible, steamed or cooked with a little amount of water.

Read more

Harmful factors for the liver

Learn about the factors which negatively affect your liver.

Read more

    1. https://www.mp.pl/pacjent/objawy/133400,powiekszenie-watroby 

    2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-liver/symptoms-causes/syc-20372167 

    3. https://www.mp.pl/medycynarodzinna/artykuly/120195,badania-czynnosci-watroby 

    4. Skuza M., Stachowicz-Stencel T., Ocena przydatności diagnostyki ultrasonograficznej w różnicowaniu zmian ogniskowych wątroby, Forum Medycyny Rodzinnej 2015, vol. 9, No. 4, 318–325 

    5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/elastography 

    6. Hartleb M. et al., Znaczenie biopsji wątroby w praktyce klinicznej— rekomendacje Sekcji Hepatologicznej Polskiego Towarzystwa Gastroenterologii, Gastroenterologia Kliniczna 2014, vol. 6, No. 2, 50–84 

    7. Dąbrowiecki S., Szczęsny W., Miejsce laparoskopii we współczesnym postępowaniu diagnostycznym, Wideochirurgia i inne techniki małoinwazyjne 2006; 1: 33–39