Merck Manual

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Evaluation of the Patient With a Liver Disorder

By

Danielle Tholey

, MD, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Reviewed/Revised Sep 2023
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Topic Resources

History

Various symptoms may develop, but few are specific for liver disorders:

Table

Family history, social history, and drug and substance use history should note risk factors for liver disorders (see table ).

Physical examination

Abnormalities detectable during a physical examination usually do not develop until late in the course of liver disease. Some common findings suggest a cause (see table ).

Table

Testing

Testing for hepatic and biliary disorders Laboratory Tests of the Liver and Gallbladder Laboratory tests are generally effective for the following: Detecting hepatic dysfunction Assessing the severity of liver injury Monitoring the course of liver diseases and the response to treatment... read more , including blood tests, imaging, and sometimes liver biopsy, plays a prominent role in the diagnosis of liver disorders. Individual tests, particularly those of liver biochemistry and excretion, often have limited sensitivity and specificity. A combination of tests often best defines the cause and severity of disease.

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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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