The Physicians' Clinic

Liver function assessments
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020 3993 8581

020 3993 8581

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Liver function assessments at The Physicians' Clinic

Your liver works tirelessly to support your health – from filtering toxins and aiding digestion to storing nutrients and producing proteins that help your blood clot. Because many liver conditions develop silently without symptoms, simple blood tests known as liver function tests (LFTs) play a vital role in early detection.

By measuring key enzymes and proteins in your blood, we can spot signs of inflammation or damage before complications arise. These tests not only guide diagnosis but also help us monitor ongoing conditions and tailor treatment, ensuring your liver stays as healthy and effective as possible.

A variety of factors can affect liver health. Understanding these can help with prevention and early detection:

  • Drinking alcohol in excess over time.
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is often linked to diet, obesity or diabetes.
  • Viral hepatitis (B or C). This affects up to 1% of the British population, but can go underdiagnosed, and can cause long-term liver damage.
  • Hereditary conditions, such as haemochromatosis (iron overload). These conditions don’t cause symptoms until later in life and are often diagnosed after the damage has been done.
  • Medications or autoimmune conditions that can affect the liver.

In its earliest stages, liver disease often has no symptoms. The majority of liver disease is identified incidentally, during screening blood tests or ultrasound scans. When symptoms do appear, you might notice:

  • Fatigue or discomfort in the abdomen.
  • Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes).
  • Fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
  • Internal bleeding or bruising.

Detecting liver disease early allows treatment before serious damage occurs. Your consultant may recommend any of these three key types of test:

  • Blood tests: To check for inflammation, liver cell damage, bilirubin levels, and protein production. These can detect early or advanced liver disease.
  • Imaging: Including ultrasound, CT or MRI scans can evaluate liver structure and identify abnormalities. These tests can often be carried out on the same day as your appointment.
  • Fibroscan: A painless, non-invasive test that measures liver scarring (fibrosis) and monitors changes over time.
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Liver function assessments

Once your liver function assessment is complete, we’ll take the time to explain your results clearly and answer any questions you may have. Together, we’ll agree the next steps – whether that’s treatment, lifestyle changes, or regular monitoring. We’ll do everything we can to make you feel supported and confident about your liver health moving forward.

If you have any questions or need support regarding liver health, get in touch and we’ll do everything we can to help.

Catching liver issues early makes treatment much easier, allowing us to act on blood test results or imaging abnormalities before symptoms develop.

Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

  • Lifestyle changes (reducing alcohol, weight management, diet adjustments).
  • Medications to prevent progression or support liver function.
  • Regular monitoring with blood tests or scans to track liver health.

Liver tests are safe and non-invasive. However, contact your consultant urgently if you experience:

  • Unexplained jaundice
  • Severe abdominal pain or swelling
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding
  • Persistent fatigue or other new symptoms
 
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