Liver Function Challenge Tests

In hepatology there are a number of tests to assess liver function. The most used is probably the liver function challenge test (also:"Functional Liver Detoxification Profile"). These non-invasive tests check the ability of the liver to detoxify and eliminate drugs and other chemicals. Patients are given a number of challenge substances, typically caffeine, acetaminophen, and salicylate. Then saliva and urine samples are collected at timed intervals and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

An especially interesting form of liver function challenge test is the ¹³C-breath test and the ICG (indocyanine green) test.

Liver ¹³C Breath Test

¹³C-breath tests for liver diagnostic have a high patient acceptance as they are non-invasive and non-radioactive as a diagnostic method. ¹³C-breath tests do provide a continuous real-time diagnosis for kinetics and for capacity of liver functions. The quantification of liver function using hepatically metabolized ¹³C-substrates is clinically helpful in various indications. The liver market in Germany seems to be far advanced in the use of ¹³C-breath liver diagnostic tests.

A major disadvantage of many breath tests in liver diagnosis is their lack of standardization as well as modifications of the test meal or solution, of the test performance and of the evaluation of data may markedly influence the results.

Comparable results can be expected if ¹³C-breath tests is executed on validated ¹³C/12C-breath testing systems. Morover standardized ¹³C-substrate, test drink, timing to take the breath samples are necessary. Important is as well that the adjacent data from collectives of normal healthy volunteers are available as a base to compare patient's actual test results. Under these conditions ¹³C-breath tests are very convenient for assessment of patient's liver status.

ICG Test

Indocyanine Green (ICG) is a substance exclusively cleared from the blood by the liver. Therefore the ICG clearance is a good indication for liver test with high dynamic. This makes ICG monitoring especially useful in the emergency, operating and intensive care, though it has a broad field of application in chronic liver diseases, pediatric liver diseases and acute liver failures.

Contact us regarding "Liver Function Challenge Tests"
or call Tilo Stolzke at +49 451 400 83 01 directly.

We want to improve!
We welcome any recommendations for articles or other information that are viewed as high value to our users.
Contact us

Tell a
friend!