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be abnormal from dehydration, vomiting, medications, kidney
problems, or more. Albumin (Alb) is the primary protein found in
blood. It represents over 1/2 of the protein in blood. Its
depressed value may represent malnutrition, liver disease or
more.
Bilirubin (Bil) is the yellow substance in blood
which when elevated causes someone to be jaundiced. This may
occur from liver problems, bile duct obstruction, excessive
red cell destruction or more.
Alkaline Phosphatase (Alk) is an enzyme which
occurs in the blood and comes from the liver and from bone.
Abnormalities often occur in the liver and bone disease.
Elevated values are common and normal in children.
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - Creatinine (Cr) These
chemicals are often elevated in cases of dehydration or
kidney disease.
Glucose testing is primarily done to screen for
diabetes. Glucose is the common blood sugar and its
elevation may indicate diabetes.
Calcium (Ca) is found mostly in the skeleton. It
is, however, an important element in the blood. It is an
important factor in bone formation, parathyroid metabolism,
kidney disease, Vitamin D metabolism and more.
Uric Acid is a chemical which is most commonly
elevated in gout. Gout is caused by uric acid crystals
getting into joints and causing arthritic-like pain.
SGOT (AST and ALT) is an enzyme found mostly in
the liver but also in the heart, the muscles, the kidneys,
the pancreas and in red blood cells. High elevations may be
associated with liver disease or muscle trauma. Elevations
may also be associated with a variety of conditions
including myocardial infarction (heart attack), pancreatitis,
bile duct obstruction and more.
SGPT is also an enzyme found mostly in the liver.
Unlike SGOT, SGPT has much less enzyme outside the liver.
Its elevation is usually more specific to direct liver
disease.
Iron (Fe) is an element important in hemoglobin
and its ability to carry oxygen. Low serum iron may be
present in iron deficiency anemia.
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