liver function test

LIVER FUNCTION TESTS (LFT)

Functions:
Liver is the largest Organ of the body weighing about 1.5kg.

Liver is called kitchen of our body.

Carbohydrate Metabolism
In fed state glycogen synthesis and excess glucose is converted to fatty acid and then TAGS which get incorporated to VLDL and transported to adipose tissue.

In Fasting state glucose concentration is maintained by glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis

Protein Metabolism:

1. Synthesis of albumin and various plasma proteins except immunoglobulins.

Most of the coagulation factors like fibrinogen, Prothrombin(II), V, VII, IX , X , XI, XII, XIII.

Excretion and Detoxification:
Conjugation and Excretion of bilirubin
Cholesterol is excreted in the bile as bile acids and cholesterol.

Steroid hormones are metabolized and inactivated by conjugation with glucuronic acid and sulphate and are excreted in Urine.


Drugs are metabolised and inactivated by CYT P450 of endoplasmic reticulum and excreted through bile / urine .

Miscellaneous function:
Iron storage, vitamins ADE storage, B12 storage.

Note: Liver has very large functional reserve.
Deficiencies of Synthetic functions can only be
detected if liver disease is very extensive.