Liver Parameters in Intensive Care Medicine

Elevated liver function tests in ICU-bound patients are associated with a greater risk of mortality. Chronic liver diseases as well as acute events and complications of therapy are among the causes. The disorder could further be investigated by assessment of liver cell integrity markers (AST, ALT and GLDH), cholestasis parameters (bilirubin, GGT, ALP) and liver synthethic function (albumin, coagulation profile). Ultrasound and elastography are cheap and mobile options to evaluate chronic liver disease, cholestasis or perfusion of the liver. The interpretation of the results should include the medical history on the ICU. Liver injury could be due to septic or ischaemic complications as well as toxic side effects or parenteral nutrition. The main therapeutic option is to identify the cause of the liver dysfuntion and to eliminate it as far as possible.