Liver function tests

Liver function tests are used for evaluating liver health, but it is important to understand their limitations.


These tests measure the levels of specific enzymes and proteins in the blood, such as ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase)¹. 

While these enzymes can indicate liver scarring (fibrosis), they are not definitive for diagnosing MASH.

One common calculation using ALT, AST, age, and platelet count is the FIB-4 score, which provides an indication of the risk of advanced MASH.

However, high FIB-4 numbers do not necessarily confirm the presence of liver diseases and should be interpreted with caution.

Besides liver function tests, other assessments like lipid profiles and hypertension are used to check for other health issues and rule out conditions that could impact liver health².

While these tests provide valuable insights, further testing and evaluation are often necessary to make an accurate diagnosis of MASH.

Liver stiffness measurements and validated scores like FIB-4 can help assess the risk of disease, but they are not definitive diagnostic tools on their own. Other non-invasive tests like transient elastography² or MRI² are also used to measure liver stiffness.

In rare cases, a liver biopsy may be required for a more comprehensive assessment. However, this is an invasive procedure that comes with some risk, which is why non-invasive tests are most commonly used.