leverprøver

Leverprøver, a Danish term, refers to laboratory assessments used to evaluate liver function or to diagnose liver disease. The term encompasses both serum tests (liver function tests) and, less commonly, liver tissue sampling (biopsy).

Serum liver function tests commonly include ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin (total and direct), albumin, and coagulation markers such as INR. ALT and AST indicate hepatocellular injury when elevated; ALP and GGT point to cholestasis or biliary obstruction; bilirubin measures excretory capacity. Albumin and INR reflect the liver’s synthetic function. Results are interpreted relative to reference ranges and may be influenced by age, medications, and muscle mass.

Liver biopsy provides tissue architecture information used to assess inflammation, fibrosis, steatosis, and iron or copper deposition. It is typically performed when noninvasive tests are inconclusive or to stage chronic liver disease. It carries risks such as bleeding and infection, and decisions about biopsy depend on the clinical context.

Indications include evaluation of jaundice, suspected liver disease, monitoring chronic liver conditions (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis), and pre-treatment assessment. Pattern recognition (hepatocellular versus cholestatic) helps guide diagnosis, but abnormal tests are not diagnostic on their own and must be integrated with history, imaging, and possibly biopsy.

The tests are commonly performed on a blood sample drawn from a vein; fasting is not always required. A liver biopsy is more invasive and requires imaging guidance and post-procedure observation. Noninvasive tests and imaging may complement LFTs to stage disease.