title: Liver enzyme elevations in dogs: diagnostic approach.
abstract: Increased liver enzyme activities are sensitive indicators of hepatic disease, but their limited specificity can make their interpretation a challenge. A stepwise approach to diagnosing the source of increased liver enzyme activity involves characterization of the clinical picture, identification of the predominant enzyme activity pattern, elimination of common extrahepatic diseases, and a systematic diagnostic workup for hepatobiliary disease. Comprehensive hepatobiliary testing includes a complete blood count, biochemical profile, and urinalysis; coagulation and liver function tests; abdominal imaging; bile cytology and culture; and liver biopsy for histopathology, culture, and metal analysis.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whittemore
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology*; D004285:Dogs; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase