How to interpret liver function tests

PRACTICE TOOLSVol 1 September 2009 Clinical Pharmacist363By Gareth Nickless, DipClinPharm,MRPharmSMany pharmacists will, at somestage, have needed to interpret apatient s liver function tests (LFTs)and decide whether any of his or hermedicines required dose reduction orcessation. Although drug-induced liver disease isrelatively uncommon, medicines shouldalways be considered as a possible cause ofliver dysfunction (and pharmacists shouldbe vigilant for such events and report allsuspected reactions to the Medicines andHealthcare products Regulatory Agencyusing the yellow card scheme). Over 600medicines have been associated withhepatotoxic reactions. liver function assessmentLFTs involve detecting the levels of severalbiochemical markers in the advice on adjusting the doses ofmedicines for patients with renal disease isplentiful (eg, The renal drug handbook ),there is no equivalent publication forpatients with abnormal LFTs or hepaticdysfunction.

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