To assess the condition of the liver, it is worth taking a blood test for viral hepatitis, as well as conducting a laboratory examination of liver function if necessary, Olga Evlasheva, a gastroenterologist at the medical company SberZdorovye, told Gazeta.Ru about this.
“Every person over 18 years old should take a blood test for viral hepatitis at least once in his life. Donating blood for viral hepatitis is also recommended for people who previously had abnormal liver laboratory tests, and for those who have already been diagnosed with liver pathologies,” said Evlasheva.
Also, if you suspect liver disease, you should undergo a comprehensive laboratory examination of the liver, which allows you to assess its basic functions. It includes several blood tests for indicators of protein, fat and pigment metabolism, markers of viral hepatitis and the tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).
“It is important to understand that most liver diseases do not manifest themselves in the early stages. Ailments usually develop only at the stage of liver cirrhosis, when the organ is already severely damaged and poorly performs its functions. Symptoms such as yellow color of the skin and sclera of the eyes, itchy skin, dark color of urine, and the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity, which can be manifested by an increase in the size of the abdomen, should alert you. You should also pay attention to constant weakness, increased bleeding of the gums or frequent nosebleeds,” warned the SberHealth doctor.
If the patient already has an identified liver disease, then the frequency of blood tests to monitor liver parameters and instrumental diagnostic methods – ultrasound, CT, MRI – varies depending on the type and severity of the identified pathology, Evlasheva noted.
