The liver--an organ found under the diaphragm and on top of the stomach, right kidney and intestines--is known to be responsible for more than 500 vital functions in the human body. Two of the most well-known functions of the liver are processing...
Liver function tests, also known as liver panels, are blood tests that examine levels of proteins and enzymes. They are usually used to determine if a disease is present or to manage the treatment of patients with known liver diseases. The tests...
Liver function test refers to a group of tests that screen the blood for enzymes and proteins produced in the liver. By determining the level of these substances, this group of tests can determine the presence of liver disease or damage. An...
A liver function test is a group of blood tests that physicians use to evaluate liver function. Some tests included in the liver function panel include albumin, ALP, AST, ALT, Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, prothrombin time, serum bilirubin, urine...
The liver's job is to clean the body of toxins by processing drugs and detoxifying the blood. Hepatocytes or liver cells also provide necessary building blocks such as amino acids and glucose. Elevated liver enzyme blood tests indicate liver...
Tricor, known chemically as fenofibrate, decreases triglyceride levels in the blood and increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL-C. Elevated triglycerides clog your arteries and cause atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease...
Alcohol withdrawal often develops in alcoholics or alcohol abusers who suddenly stop drinking or significantly cut back their alcohol intake. Withdrawal symptoms develop because the body begins to make excess stress hormones, and the central...
Consuming too many vitamins can cause vitamin toxicity, or hypervitaminosis. Vitamins absorbed from food rarely lead to toxicity, but taking too many supplemental vitamins can. While the body generally excretes excess water-soluble vitamins,...
Chromium, an essential element, is often sold as a dietary supplement in the form of chromium picolinate to aid in weight loss, decrease blood glucose levels and increase muscle mass. As many as 90 percent of Americans don't get enough chromium in...
Tricor, manufactured by Abbott, is a member of the cholesterol-lowering class of drugs called the fibric acid derivatives. Its active ingredient is fenofibrate and it works by blocking the formation of triglycerides -- fat in the blood. Tricor...
Liver diseases are also called hepatic diseases. Doctors who specialize in treating them are called hepatologists. Patients might be referred to a hepatologist because they have an abnormal liver function test or are showing symptoms of liver...
A fatty liver is characterized by the presence of fat in the liver. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of Americans have some fat in their livers. The presence of fat...
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that is sometimes used to treat epilepsy. It also may be used to lessen symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia, a complication of shingles that affects your nerve fibers and skin and causes burning pain. It's been...
Scleroderma is a disease that affects the skin and internal organs. The literal meaning of the word is "hard skin"; people with scleroderma experience a hardening and tightening of their skin. The inflammation and scarring associated with...
Biliary cirrhosis is a disease in which the bile ducts of the liver are destroyed gradually. When bile ducts are destroyed, bile, which is a fluid that aids in fat digestion, cannot leave the liver, causing accumulation of bile and other harmful...
According to MedlinePlus, Protonix, also known as pantoprazole, belongs to a class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors. Protonix suppresses stomach acid secretion by inhibiting the hydrogen-potassium ATPase enzyme system located in the...
Increased levels of liver enzymes indicate inflammation, injury or damage to liver cells. The most commonly found elevated liver enzymes in blood tests are alanine transaminase, or ALT, and aspartate transaminase, or AST. In most cases, high...
Zyvox is the brand name of the generic drug linezolid. Drugs.com reports that Zyvox is an antibiotic used to fight infections in the body. Zyvox may be used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia and skin infections as well as infections...
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, plays a key role in metabolism by assisting in the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for energy. Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are the two forms of niacin in the human body....
Provigil is a medication used to treat excessive sleepiness in conditions like sleep apnea, narcolepsy or sleep problems associated with working different shifts. Drugs.com explains that the medication is thought to work by altering the natural...
Vicodin is a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In addition to its habit-forming properties, Vicodin can cause serious liver damage when taken in large doses. Understanding how Vicodin affects the liver allows you to...
Amiodarone is a drug that is used only in the treatment of serious life-threatening heart rhythm problems. Amiodarone has potential to cause fatal side effects, and patients are strictly monitored for the first few doses in a hospital setting....
Extra Strength Tylenol is an over-the-counter pain reliever that temporarily reduces fever and relieves pain due to conditions like headache, muscular aches, arthritis, colds and flu. The active ingredient in Extra Strength Tylenol is...
Graves’ disease is the single biggest cause of hyperthyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid gland secretes too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include heart palpitations, diarrhea, insomnia and weight loss. In “Clinical...
The rose is the flower of love and the most widely purchased flower in the United States. According to the Progressive Policy Institute, roses accounted for 1.4 billion of the 3.9 billion flowers sold nationwide in 2006. The flower's smell and...
Medical professionals order liver function tests to evaluate overall liver health. With liver function tests, the laboratory measures the levels of certain proteins and chemicals in the blood. Abnormally high liver function test results may...
Learning that the breast cancer has metastasized can be devastating for women: the cancer is now advanced, and has spread through the blood stream to other parts of the body. Metastasized breast cancer spreads to the bone, brain, lungs and liver...
Although most cases of ringworm are relatively easy to treat, some cases can be more difficult. When the fungus infects the skin it spreads through the uppermost layer. Mild infections usually respond to topical over-the-counter treatments. Some...
According to Drugs.com, Fenoglide (also known as fenobrite), is a medication used to help prevent your risk of developing atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries. It lowers your triglyceride levels, thus lowering your total cholesterol. Along with...
The bile duct is a long tube-like structure that connects the liver to the intestine and transports bile. Learn about bile duct cancer including possible causes, and treatment options for bile duct cancer in this video.
