The liver performs hundreds of chemical jobs — processing nutrients, clearing toxins, making bile and clotting factors. The Liver Function Test (LFT) checks how well this factory is running by measuring enzymes and proteins in the blood.
The most discussed values are the liver enzymes ALT and AST. Raised levels suggest liver cells are inflamed or damaged — but the cause list is long: viral hepatitis, fatty liver, alcohol, medicines, gallstones and even intense exercise. Bilirubin, which causes jaundice when high, and albumin and the INR clotting tests add detail about liver function.
In Pakistan, hepatitis B and C and fatty liver disease are the common reasons for abnormal LFTs, alongside drug-induced liver injury from unprescribed medicines and herbal preparations. A single raised reading is not a diagnosis — doctors repeat tests, add ultrasound or viral markers, and look at the whole picture.
Protect your liver: avoid unprescribed medicines, be careful with herbal and weight-loss products, limit alcohol, control diabetes and weight, and get tested for hepatitis if you are at risk. Early detection changes outcomes dramatically.
What is a liver function test?
A liver function test (LFT) measures enzymes like ALT and AST plus proteins and bilirubin in the blood to check how well the liver — your body’s chemical factory — is working.
What do raised liver enzymes mean?
Raised enzymes suggest liver cells are inflamed or stressed — possible causes include viral hepatitis, fatty liver, medicines, alcohol or gallstones, so doctors repeat tests and look at the whole picture.
What should you do after a raised liver enzyme result?
Handle a raised ALT or AST methodically. First, repeat the test — transient elevations happen from exercise, a recent infection or even a heavy meal, and a second reading clarifies. Second, review your medicines and supplements honestly: unprescribed painkillers, herbal products, weight-loss pills and traditional preparations are common causes of drug-induced liver injury in Pakistan; stop anything not prescribed, with your doctor’s agreement. Third, get the standard work-up: hepatitis B and C screening, an abdominal ultrasound to check for fatty liver, and a lipid and sugar check because fatty liver disease is increasingly common. Fourth, look at lifestyle: limit alcohol, control weight and diabetes, and eat a balanced diet. Then re-test in a few weeks. If the enzymes stay raised or you have symptoms like jaundice, abdominal pain or unexplained fatigue, your doctor may refer you for specialist assessment. The encouraging pattern is that early detection — before damage becomes permanent — is exactly what makes liver disease treatable.
