Value of profiling liver function in the elderly.
The value of measuring three routine tests of liver function was assessed prospectively in 523 geriatric patients. Abnormalities were found in 27% of patients and were clinically helpful in half of these cases. Profiling liver function, without clinical indication, revealed abnormal results in 17% of patients and was important in one-third of these (6% of total). The two most important diagnoses were unsuspected osteomalacia and gall stone disease.
D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin