Correlation of liver function and liver structure: Clinical applications

Abstract

1. 1. An attempt has been made to illustrate the aid in diagnosis and management of liver diseases derived from the use of liver function tests and liver biopsy findings, and correlations between them. 2. 2. The significance of a series of liver function tests and the indications and contraindications of liver biopsy in liver disease and other hepatomegalies are briefly diseussed. 3. 3. Correlation between morphologic and functional findings helps in evaluation of liver function tests and reveals that most liver function tests give abnormal results in diffuse parenchymal diseases whereas in focal alterations, regardless of severity, none or only a few tests may be pathologic. 4. 4. Based on morphologic and functional criteria, acute hepatic damage was subdivided into viral, toxic, biliary and purulent types; different forms in each group were illustrated by clinical, laboratory and morphologic criteria. The various forms of cirrhosis were similarly discussed. 5. 5. The improvement in diagnosis of liver diseases derived from use of liver function tests and the additional help of liver biopsies is demonstrated. Liver biopsy also can be applied to the critical evaluation of therapeutic procedures in hepatic disease.