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Liver Enzymes on the VetScan
Enzymes are indicators of liver damage or disease, when they are released from hepatic cells into the circulation. ALT & GGT are found only in liver tissue, whereas ALP & LDH are also present in other tissues and are non-specific liver enzymes. The liver has a significant amount of over capacity. It is the only organ that can make new tissue to compensate for disease or damage. Therefore liver enzymes can be markedly raised and the liver still function normally.
Bile Acid Assay on the VetScan
Previously only available from a commercial laboratory, this sensitive test of liver function can now be performed “in practice” as part of a complete liver profile on heparinised whole blood.
Bile Acids are a true test of liver function.
One function of the liver is to synthesise and recover bile acids. Bile acids are excreted into the bile duct to aid digestion of fatty foods. In the healthy individual between 95 - 98% of the excreted bile acids are reabsorbed by the intestines and return via the portal circulation to the liver to be extracted from the blood. The small amount not extracted by the liver is the normal serum bile acid <10µmol/l. The bile acid levels increase after feeding, normally causing a slight elevation of serum bile acid concentration if measured 90 -120 mins after eating. (Pre and 2 hour post feed Bile Acids assays are particularly useful in the diagnosis of portosystemic shunts.)
*Includes 5% settlement discount.
**Includes rotor credit for duplicate assays of same patient
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