title: Sensitivity and specificity of liver function tests in the detection of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.
abstract: We carried out a study to determine which of the liver function tests was the most sensitive and/or specific in detecting parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis. The tests utilized were alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, cholylglycine, sulfolithocholylglycine, and bilirubin. Fifty-nine patients with no prior evidence of liver dysfunction were studied. We found gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to be the most sensitive (89.5%) and also the least specific (61.9% specificity). Specificity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was improved when it was combined with alkaline phosphatase. We recommend the combination of these two enzymes as the most cost effective way of detecting parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nanji
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase