Dysphagia & Liver Function Tests PDF

Dysphagia Liver Function Tests in Clinical Settings  Dysphagia Dysphagia means difficulty in swallowing. Causes of dysphagia i. Mechanical obstruction of esophagus due to tumor, strictures, diverticular hernia (out pouching of the wall), etc. ii. Decreased movement...

Dysphagia Liver Function Tests in Clinical Settings  Dysphagia Dysphagia means difficulty in swallowing. Causes of dysphagia i. Mechanical obstruction of esophagus due to tumor, strictures, diverticular hernia (out pouching of the wall), etc. ii. Decreased movement of esophagus due to neurological disorders such as parkinsonism iii. Muscular disorders leading to difficulty in swallowing during oral stage or esophageal stage.  What isLiverfunctiontest (LFT)? Liver function test is a group of blood commonly tests performed to evaluate the function of the liver This test measures the levelof ○ Liver enzymes ○ Proteins and ○ Bilirubin in theblood  Variouscomponentsof LiverFunctiontest (LFT) includes Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Gamma Glutamyl Transferase(GGT) Alkaline Phosphatase(ALP) Alanine Transaminase(ALT) Bilirubin - Total, Direct andIndirect Protein Total, Serum ○ Albumin Globulin, Serum ○ Albumin/Globulin Ratio,Serum ○ Protein Total ○  Why isLiverFunction Test(LFT) done? Liver function test isdone Asa part of preventive health checkup To diagnose liver diseases like viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis or livercirrhosis To monitor the efficacy of a therapy given for the treatment of existing liver disease Tomonitor the health of liver when a patient is on medicines with known harmful effects onliver  How isLiverFunctionTest(LFT) done? LFT is done on a blood sample A syringe attached to a fine needle is used to withdraw the blood from avein of arm  Alkalinephosphatase(ALP) High levels of ALPare seen in patients with ○ Bile duct obstruction ○ Hepatitis ○ Cirrhosis Livercancer ○ Bone diseases ○ High levels of ALPare considered normal in growing children and pregnant women  AlanineAminotransferase(ALT) ALTis also known asserum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) Very high levels of ALTare seenin patients with acutehepatitis Moderately high levels of ALTare seen in patientswith ○ Chronic hepatitis ○ Blocked bile ducts ○ Cirrhosis ○ Liver cancer  AspartateAminotransferase(AST) ASTis also known asserum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) High levels of ASTare seenin patients with liver and muscle damage However ASTis not specific for liver damageand is measured along with ALTto diagnose asuspected liver disease  Gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) Highlevelsof GGTare seenin patients with ○ Alcoholic liver disease ○ Obstructive liver disease ○ Acute and chronic viral hepatitis ○ Fatty liver disease ○ Cirrhosis Cholestasis Liver ○ tumors ○  SerumProteins Albumin is the main proteinsynthesized Low levels of albumin indicates that liver is not functioning properly and can be seen in patientswith ○ Cirrhosis ○ ChronicHepatitis ○ Poor nutrition ○ Kidney disease ○ Infections  Low level of Globulin is seeninmalnutrition High levels of Globulin are seenin ○ Chronic active hepatitis ○ Alcoholic hepatitis ○ Chronic inflammatory diseases Low albumin to globulinratio ○ Indicates liver cirrhosis High albumin to globulinratio ○ Suggestsdecreased globulin production ○ Isseen in some genetic diseases or leukemia  Bilirubin Highlevelsof bilirubinareseeninpatients with Hepatitis Livercirrhosis Bile duct obstruction Gallbladder cancer Gallstones Genetic diseaseslike Gilbert’s syndrome