Posts Tagged ‘tests’

Observing National Hepatitis Testing Day

Observing National Hepatitis Testing Day Dr. Ronald Valdiserri Next Monday, May 19th, is the third national Hepatitis Testing Day, established to raise greater awareness of an epidemic that is too often unrecognized. Millions Living with Undiagnosed Infections There are approximately 3.5–5.3 million Americans living with chronic viral hepatitis, but most of them do not know…

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AST/ALT Ratio

AST ALT Ratio for Diagnosis The ratio of AST to ALT has been used as a diagnostic aid: AST:ALT ratio of more than 2:1 is characteristic in patients with alcoholic liver disease a raised AST level out of proportion to the ALT level appears to be caused by a differential reduction in hepatic ALT due…

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Alcohol and Liver Damage: Is There a Reliable Screening Test?

Reliable Screening Test? Screening for liver damage due to alcohol, some medicines, or other toxins may be difficult. Though acute liver failure is obvious as in mushroom poisoning or Tylenol overdose, often presenting with severe jaundice and nausea. But chronic liver damage may be more insidious. Elevations in liver enzymes tested for in routine lab…

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Autoimmune liver disease panel

Liver disease test panel – autoimmune Last reviewed: January 28, 2009. An autoimmune liver disease panel is a series of tests performed when autoimmune liver disease is suspected. An autoimmune liver disease means that the body’s immune system attacks the liver. These tests include: Anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibodies Anti-mitochondrial antibodies Anti-nuclear antibodies Anti-smooth muscle antibodies Occasionally,…

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Special Considerations in Interpreting Liver Function Tests

Special Considerations in Interpreting Liver Function Tests DAVID E. JOHNSTON, M.D., University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico Am Fam Physician. 1999 Apr 15;59(8):2223-2230. A number of pitfalls can be encountered in the interpretation of common blood liver function tests. These tests can be normal in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis.…

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Problems With Electrolyte Balance

Problems With Electrolyte Balance The level of any electrolyte in the blood can become too high or too low. The main electrolytes in the blood are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, and carbonate. Most commonly, problems occur when the level of sodium, potassium, or calcium is abnormal. Often, electrolyte levels change when water levels…

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Looking at Liver Function Bloodwork

Looking at Liver Function Bloodwork When you go for a physical, your healthcare practitioner frequently orders blood tests. Many folks first find out they have hep C after undergoing a routine blood test and finding that one or more of the tests is abnormal. There’s no one test that indicates chronic hepatitis C disease. Tests…

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Liver Function Tests – A Good Article

Liver Function Tests The purpose of this page is to assist people to understand the reasons for the tests that are generally performed and make some sense of the results. It is not intended to encourage “self diagnosis” A reliable diagnosis of a liver condition can only be made by a qualified medical practitioner after…

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Imaging Tests

Imaging Tests Imaging is essential for accurately diagnosing biliary tract disorders and is important for detecting focal liver lesions (eg, abscess, tumor). It is limited in detecting and diagnosing diffuse hepatocellular disease (eg, hepatitis, cirrhosis). Ultrasonography: Ultrasonography, traditionally done transabdominally and requiring a period of fasting, provides structural, but not functional, information. It is the…

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Exams and Tests

Exams and Tests Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when inflammation and scarring damage the liver. A physical examination and medical history will be done first to assess symptoms of liver disease, to see whether liver disease is severe enough to cause signs of cirrhosis, and to help determine possible causes of liver…

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