title: Laboratory Evaluation of the Liver.
abstract: Laboratory evaluation of the hepatobiliary system has an important role in the diagnosis, monitoring, and assessment of patients with hepatobiliary diseases. Serum liver enzyme activities can be divided into markers of hepatocellular injury and cholestasis. Liver function can be assessed in several ways, including assessment of synthetic capacity, measurement of ammonia, and measurement of bile acids. It is essential to have an understanding of the performance characteristics and limitations of these tests in order to use them appropriately. This article reviews the laboratory parameters commonly used to aid diagnosing hepatobiliary disorders in dogs and cats.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA. Electronic address: ylawrence@cvm.tamu.edu.
authors.forename: Yuri A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4474 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA.
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D002415:Cats; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D008099:Liver; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin
keywords: Ammonia; Bile acids; Bilirubin; Hepatic enzymes; Liver disease