Hello, I am Dr. Konul Mahmudova, a general practitioner and hepatologist, and I would like to draw your attention to important aspects of liver health and diagnostics. Liver function tests and modern examination methods make it possible to timely detect the condition of this organ as well as any existing changes. Let us look together at the questions that patients are most interested in.
What do ALT and AST levels indicate in liver tests?
Do not be fooled by normal ALT and AST results. Even if the viral load is low, certain processes may still be taking place in the liver. To understand the problem precisely, you must consult a specialist. For example, even in patients with normal blood test results such as ALT, AST, and bilirubin, but with decreased platelet counts, we can accurately determine liver damage and the degree of fibrosis using elastography.
What do tests reflecting the liver's synthetic function show?
The tests reflecting the liver's synthetic function are normal. Through the example of our patient Zahid Seyidmammadov, we saw that a patient who had lived with a cirrhosis diagnosis for years and received piles of prescriptions actually had a completely healthy liver. After examining the patient's complaints and test results, we performed an elastography examination and confirmed that the liver size was normal and the tests reflecting synthetic function were in order. Yellowish discoloration of the whites of the eyes is not necessarily an indicator of liver disease; this symptom can also occur in blood disorders or autoimmune diseases.
What tests and steps should be taken when a virus is detected?
When the Hepatitis B virus is detected, we are not in a hurry to prescribe medications, because the patient must first undergo certain procedures and examinations to determine whether treatment is needed. The examination process involves the following steps:
- The patient's complaints are heard and blood tests are examined
- The viral load is checked
- If the viral load is high, the liver is evaluated elastographically
If Hepatitis C is detected in the blood, certain steps must be taken sequentially. First of all, the right specialist must be found and the patient's condition must be clarified.
What tests are used in diagnosing Hepatitis C?
The first virus detected in the blood does not yet tell us for sure about Hepatitis C. For this, a much deeper examination is definitely performed and a PCR test for the virus is conducted. If the virus is detected in the PCR test, the patient is diagnosed with Hepatitis C. A person with Hepatitis C in their blood feels no discomfort at all, and it is precisely this absence of discomfort that deepens the problem further.
What modern methods are used to determine the condition of the liver?
To determine the condition of the liver, especially the stage of fibrosis, we use elastography. Using elastography, we can determine the degree of liver damage with high precision within 15–20 minutes without the need for a biopsy. The examination is painless and requires no cuts or punctures. Regular ultrasound examination, unfortunately, cannot fully determine the degree of fibrosis because ultrasound only describes the grossest changes in the liver. The incision-free examination we perform with the elastography device penetrates deep layers of the liver and clarifies the processes taking place there without any pain or incisions.