Liver function markers

Question	Answer
What are ALTs and ASTs markers of	Hepatocellular injury
What do ALTs and ASTs do?	They participate in gluconeogensis by catalysing the transfer of aspratic acid or alanine to ketoglutaric acid to produce oxaloacetic acid and pyruvic acid
In what isoenzymes is AST present?	Cytosolic and mitochondrial
In what tissues can ASTs be found?	Liver, striated muscle, brain, pancrease, leukocytes, RBCs, kidneys and lungs
Which out of ASTs or ALTs are more specific to liver function	ALTs (L for liver!!)
What is the difference in tissue activity and distribution between ASTs and ALTs?	They both have similar tissue distribution, but ALTs are less active in extra-hepatic tissues.
What is Alkaline Phosphate derived from?	The liver - on the surface of the bile canalicular membrane
How does Alkaline Phosphate in the liver enter the bloodstream?	Via the paracellular pathway
What does a rise in serum ALP mean?	Bile duct obstruction, bone disease or during bone growth
Is gamma glutamyl transferase a mitochondrial isoenzyme?	Yes
What is an inidcator of chonic alcohol consumption?	High plasma GGT levels
What does a rasied GGT and ALP mean?	Cholstasis (gallstones or head of pancreas cancer) and some liver diseases.
Does the liver produce immunoglobins?	False - but it produces all other plasma proteins
What is the most important plasma protein produced by the liver	Albumin
What is prothrombin time a measure of?	The rate of conversion of pro-thrombin to thrombin - reflects a vital synthetic function of the liver

Resource summary

	Created by Isobel Setford about 9 years ago