Decoding your liver function tests

• ALT and AST — together, not line by line

  Both enzymes rise with liver cell damage, but AST also lives in muscle and heart. The breakdown looks at the degree of elevation and the ratio between the enzymes — that is what hints where to look.

• GGT and alkaline phosphatase

  The "bile flow" pair: their rise with calm ALT/AST is a different story from cell damage. GGT is also sensitive to alcohol and medications — we explain what may stand behind your value.

• Bilirubin: direct and indirect

  The total number says little — what matters is which fraction rose. Isolated indirect bilirubin with calm enzymes often turns out to be Gilbert's syndrome — a benign trait, not a disease.

• Albumin and proteins — the liver's reserves

  Enzymes show damage, albumin shows synthetic function: whether the liver is coping with its job. We read it together with total protein in the context of the rest of the report.

• Medications, alcohol and workouts

  Statins, antibiotics, paracetamol, alcohol the day before and even a hard workout move liver enzymes. Mention the context in your note — the breakdown accounts for it and suggests what to retest and when.

• Trends across several reports

  Found the elevation again? Upload the reports by date — the breakdown shows whether the values are rising, flat or falling, and what to discuss with the doctor.

The breakdown does not replace a doctor: diagnosis and treatment happen only at a real consultation. The service helps you understand the report and arrive with ready questions.

• What is included in a liver panel?
  The classic panel is ALT, AST, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin with fractions, albumin and total protein. An incomplete report works too — the breakdown will say plainly what is missing for the full picture.
• ALT and AST are elevated — is it necessarily serious?
  Not necessarily. Moderate elevation happens after alcohol, an intense workout, on certain medications, and with fatty liver disease — the most common cause of "incidentally" elevated enzymes. What matters is the fold-elevation, the enzyme ratio and the trend on retesting. The breakdown explains which picture yours resembles — the cause is established by a doctor.
• How much does it cost?
  The same as a regular lab decoding: 390 RUB — a one-time card payment with no subscription and no recurring charges; the receipt goes to your email. The current price, including promotions, is shown in the form before you start.
• Only bilirubin is elevated, the rest is normal — what is it?
  A common scenario: if the indirect fraction rose with calm enzymes, it is often Gilbert's syndrome — a benign genetic trait of bilirubin metabolism that intensifies with fasting, stress and illness. Confirming it and ruling out other causes is the doctor's job; the breakdown explains your picture and suggests what to ask.
• Can ChatGPT decode liver function tests?
  Partly: a general chatbot can explain what ALT is, but it reads the panel as a set unreliably — it does not compute enzyme ratios, does not check your lab's reference ranges, and mixes up bilirubin fractions. A specialized breakdown recognizes the report, reads the markers together and says plainly where the data is insufficient.
• Does this replace a doctor or an ultrasound?
  No. Labs show function and damage, ultrasound shows the liver's structure; the full picture is assembled by a doctor. The breakdown helps you arrive prepared — with an understanding of the report and concrete questions. With jaundice, dark urine, or right-upper-quadrant pain with fever, do not delay an in-person visit.
• When should elevated ALT and AST be retested?
  For an incidental moderate finding, the usual guide is a retest in 2–4 weeks without alcohol, new medications or hard workouts the day before: values often return to normal on their own. A persistent elevation is a reason for a doctor's work-up, not endless retesting. Upload both reports — the breakdown shows the trend.