A detailed medical history is important in analyzing acute liver failure. In addition to a physical examination and detailed analysis of existing symptoms, certain diagnostic tests and procedures to detect acute liver failure are essential.
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures for Acute Liver Failure
New York (USA), June 24, 2013
Acute Liver Failure: Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
A detailed medical history is important in analyzing acute liver failure. Essential details include family history of liver ailments, alcohol use, drug or substance use, when jaundice started, when encephalopathy started, exposure to hepatitis virus due to travel to endemic areas, exposure to hepatic toxins, evidence of specific complications like kidney failure, renal problems, infection, seizures, bleeding, and others.
In addition to a physical examination and detailed analysis of existing symptoms, certain diagnostic tests and procedures to detect acute liver failure are essential. These include:
(I) Blood Tests
Blood test should identify:
Bilirubin: Liver produces bilirubin to promote easy digestion. Bilirubin is excreted in the bile. If blood test indicates high levels of bilirubin, it is either due to defective processing of bile in liver or due to obstruction in bile flow.
Globulin, Albumin, and Protein Levels: If levels of these substances are low in blood, it indicates liver disorders.
Liver Enzymes: If blood has high levels of liver enzymes, it is due to any injury or damage to liver causing enzymes to leak into bloodstream.
Prothrombin Time (PT) and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT): Blot can clot easily only in the presence of specific proteins made in liver and vitamin K. If your liver is damaged and obstructions are present in bile, blood clotting would take a long time.
(II) Other Diagnostic Tests
Specific imaging tests include:
Ultrasound: This imaging test of liver displays any damage, inflammation, amount of blood flow, and other disorders of liver.
CT or CAT Scan: Cross-sectional images, both horizontal and vertical, show your liver in exact detail. The precision of details is much more than x-ray.
Biopsy: Doctor makes a small incision on right side of your neck. A catheter is passed through a large vein in neck and through your heart into a vein exiting from your liver. A biopsy needle inserted through this catheter pricks out a small sample of your liver tissue. This tissue is examined under a microscope to detect causes of your liver ailments.
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