Evaluating Liver Test Abnormalities
Understanding the Pathophysiology of Liver Disease
for Health Care Providers
Normal Liver Key Point
In evaluating liver diseases, it is useful to think of the liver as being composed of 2 morphological/functional subunits: the hepatic parenchyma and the biliary tree. Injury to each subunit gives rise to a specific pattern of liver test abnormalities. In other words, the pattern of liver test abnormalities can help determine which 'unit(s)' of the liver is injured. Clinicians can then narrow down the list of possible diagnoses, and tailor subsequent investigations accordingly.