Description

Elevated liver function tests often signal liver inflammation or damage, even before symptoms appear. This blood panel assesses biomarkers associated with liver health, metabolic status, iron storage, and underlying causes of chronic liver dysfunction. It helps identify the root causes of elevated liver enzymes and supports early intervention and treatment planning.

Possible Causes of Elevated Liver Enzymes:

  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Fat buildup in the liver not caused by alcohol.
  • Alcoholic Liver Disease: Chronic or heavy alcohol use can inflame or scar the liver.
  • Viral Hepatitis (Hepatitis B or C): Infections that damage liver tissue and elevate enzyme levels.
  • Medications: Drugs like acetaminophen and statins can cause liver stress or injury.
  • Toxic Hepatitis: Liver inflammation due to exposure to toxins, chemicals, or certain supplements.
  • Wilson's Disease: A genetic disorder causing copper buildup and liver damage.
  • Mononucleosis: A viral infection that can involve the liver.
  • Heart Failure: Can impair liver circulation, leading to enzyme elevation.
  • Obesity: Increases risk of fatty liver and liver inflammation.

Panel Tests and Related Biomarkers:

Ceruloplasmin

  • Purpose: Evaluates copper metabolism and is often used to screen for Wilson’s disease.
  • Biomarker Role: Low levels are a biomarker for Wilson’s disease, a genetic condition that causes copper to accumulate in the liver and brain.

Hemoglobin A1C (HgA1C)

  • Purpose: Measures average blood glucose levels over the past 2–3 months.
  • Biomarker Role: A biomarker for insulin resistance or diabetes, which are strongly linked to NAFLD and metabolic liver disease.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

  • Purpose: Screens for active hepatitis B infection.
  • Biomarker Role: A viral marker indicating ongoing hepatitis B infection, which can cause chronic liver inflammation.

Hepatitis C Antibody with Reflex to PCR

  • Purpose: Detects past or current hepatitis C infection. If antibodies are positive, reflex testing confirms active viral load.
  • Biomarker Role: Hepatitis C antibodies and RNA levels are important biomarkers for identifying and managing chronic hepatitis C.

Ferritin

  • Purpose: Measures iron stores in the body.
  • Biomarker Role: Elevated ferritin can be a biomarker of liver inflammation or iron overload, often seen in conditions like hemochromatosis or NAFLD.

Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4)

  • Purpose: An algorithm based on age, liver enzymes, and platelet count used to assess liver scarring or fibrosis.
  • Biomarker Role: A non-invasive biomarker of liver fibrosis, helping identify progression toward cirrhosis, especially in fatty liver disease.

Mitochondrial M2 Antibody (AMA-M2)

  • Purpose: Detects antimitochondrial antibodies associated with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC).
  • Biomarker Role: AMA-M2 is a specific autoimmune biomarker used in diagnosing PBC, an autoimmune liver disease.

Fasting Requirements:

  • Fasting is not required for this panel.

How This Panel Helps:

By measuring a combination of inflammatory, viral, autoimmune, metabolic, and genetic biomarkers, this panel offers a comprehensive view of liver health. It supports early detection of serious liver conditions and can help tailor treatment strategies based on the underlying cause of enzyme elevation.

Conclusion:

The Elevated Liver Function Blood Panel helps uncover the reasons behind abnormal liver enzyme levels. These biomarkers provide valuable insights into liver inflammation, fibrosis risk, infections, and systemic contributors, enabling more accurate diagnosis and proactive care.