Liver Cirrhosis Lab Values - What You Should Know

Liver cirrhosis lab values are used to diagnose what stage a person's liver disease is in. Here are some of the blood tests and lab values that your doctor will go over with you:

• Albumin Normal values for an adult are 3.4-5.4 g/dL. People with chronic liver disease accompanied by cirrhosis usually have levels < 3 g/dL.
  
• Ammonia Normal ammonia values for an adult are 15-45 ug/dL. When the liver and portal blood flow is impaired, ammonia levels rise.
  
• Immunoglobulins A variety of immunoglobulins will increase with chronic liver disease. The rise of different immunoglobulins suggest specific liver diseases. Here are the normal adult values:
  
  
  
  • IgA -- 140-400 mg/dL (elevated levels detect alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis, laennec's cirrhosis, hepatobiliary carcinoma)
    
  • IgD -- 0-8 mg/dL (elevated levels detect chronic infections and liver diseases)
    
  • IgG -- 700-1500 mg/dL (elevated levels detect autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis, hepatitis c, laennec's cirrhosis)
    
  • IgM -- 35-375 mg/dL (elevated levels detect biliary cirrhosis, hepatitis, viral infections)
    
  
  
  
• Platelets Normal adult values are 150,000-450,000/mm3
  
• Bilirubin The bilirubin values vary for men and women. The normal values for adult men are 0.3-1.1 mg/dL, and for adult women the values are 0.1-0.4 mg/dL. Bilirubin measures how well your liver is excreting bile. But note that there are certain drugs can elevate bilirubin levels.
  

These are just some of the liver cirrhosis lab values that your doctor will go over with you, and there may be more that he or she will include. If you are listed for a transplant, you are given a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. The lab values used in the MELD calculation include:

• Bilirubin, which, again, measures your liver's ability to excrete bile.
  
• INR, which measures your liver's ability to make blood clotting factors.
  
• Creatine, which measures kidney function. Kidneys that aren't functioning properly are often associated with severe liver disease.
  

The MELD score can go up and down depending on your lab values. For instance, you can have a high score, then receive treatment and your score will then go down. Now, if you're not at the stage yet where you need a transplant, then consider some treatments and techniques that can help reverse the effects of liver cirrhosis. There are many things you can do that are safe, inexpensive and effective that will give your liver a break and give you back your energy and vitality.

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