I find the term "LFT" as it is used at present to be intellectually
unsettling. Strictly speaking, liver function tests ought to refer to those
tests which are commonly used as a measure of liver biological function -
Albumin, bilirubin, and INR/PTT, as surrogate measures of biosynthetic and
detoxification capacity. The term has been corrupted to mean liver enzymes
(AST/ALT/GGT/ALP) which do NOT reflect liver function at all, but are rather
a reflection of hepatocellular/cholangiocellular integrity and health.
While I normally despise such sophistry, I feel justified in this instance;
liver enzymes are liver enzymes, and liver function is liver function, and
ne'er the twain should meet. The term is employed poorly at present.
It's as ridiculous as dialing a pushbutton phone.
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