Skip to main content
. 2017 Apr 25;19(5):514–528. doi: 10.1177/1098612X17706465

Table 1.

Biochemical profile: commonly encountered laboratory findings in biliary disease14,25

Parameter Anatomical distribution Increases in response to: t1/2 Increases observed: Decreases observed: Especially useful in: Findings in biliary and gallbladder diseases (with supporting references)
Alanine aminotransferase* (ALT) Cytosol of hepatocytes, cardiac muscle, kidney Hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, acetaminophen toxicosis 3.5 h In first 5 days after injury (within 24 h in acetaminophen toxicosis) 2–3 weeks after recovery (within 72 h in acetaminophen toxicosis) –

  • Biliary cyst, cholecystitis and NC26,27

  • LC27–29

  • Choledochal cyst 30

  • AD-PKD 31

  • EHBDO22,24

  • Gallbladder sludge 23

  • Cholelith12,32–34

  • Avulsion of CBD 12

  • Cholestasis 12

  • Hepatic lipidosis 18

  • Non-specified hepatobiliary disease 35

  • Cholangitis 36

  • LFC37,38

  • Gallbladder mucocele and lipidosis 39

  • Cholecystitis, cholelith, gallbladder rupture and peritonitis 40

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma 41

Aspartate aminotransferase† (AST) Cytosol and mitochondria of hepatocytes, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, brain, small intestine, spleen – 1.5 h In first 3 days after injury 2–3 weeks after recovery Hepatic necrosis, cholangitis, chronic bile duct obstruction

  • Biliary cyst, cholecystitis and NC26,27

  • LC 27

  • Cholangitis 36

  • LFC37,38

  • Cholelith 34

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma 41

Alkaline phosphatase‡ (ALP) Membrane of hepatocytes, bone, intestine, kidney, placenta Neonates (colostrum), young animals (bone growth), hyperthyroidism, inflammation and neoplasia, late pregnancy, lipidosis 6 h Within 2 days of EHBDO 2–3 weeks after recovery Cholestasis

  • Biliary cyst, cholecystitis and NC26,27

  • LC27–29

  • Choledochal cyst 30

  • EHBDO 22

  • Gallbladder sludge 23

  • Cholelith12,32–34

  • Cholestasis 12

  • Non-specified hepatobiliary disease 35

  • Normal in most cases of NC with cholecystitis 26

  • Cholangitis 36

  • LFC37,38

  • Gallbladder mucocele and lipidosis 39

γ-glutamyltransferase (γGT) Kidney, pancreas, intestine, gallbladder, membrane of cholangiocytes – – Within 3 days of EHBDO – Cholestasis (interpret together with ALP)

  • Biliary cyst, cholecystitis and NC 27

  • LC 27

  • EHBDO 22

  • Cholangitis 36

  • Cholecystitis, cholelith, gallbladder rupture and peritonitis 40

Lactate dehydrogenase§ (LDH) Skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, intestine, cytosol of hepatocytes, lung, pancreas Diffuse severe hepatic necrosis or inflammation; young animals (higher in kittens than adults) – – – – –
Arginase Cytosol of hepatocytes and mitochondria – – – – – –
Sorbitol dehydrogenase§ (SDH) Cytosol of hepatocytes – – – – – –
γ-globulins – – – – – –

  • LC 29

  • LFC (globulins unspecified) 37

  • Bile duct carcinoma 42

Bile acids – Loss of functional hepatic mass – – – –

  • Normal in EHBDO (preprandial) 24

  • Normal in cholecystitis 7

  • Cholestasis 7

  • Cholelith 7

  • LFC 7

  • EHBDO 7

  • Normal in trauma of lower biliary tract 7

Cholesterol – – – – – –

  • EHBDO 22

  • Cholelith 34

Bilirubin – – – – – –

  • LC27–29

  • Choledochal cyst 30

  • EHBDO22,24

  • Gallbladder sludge 23

  • Gallbladder mucocele and lipidosis 39

  • Cholelith12,32,34

  • Avulsion of CBD 12

  • Cholestasis 12

  • Non-specified hepatobiliary disease 35

  • NC and cholecystitis 26

  • Cholangitis 36

  • LFC37,38

  • Cholecystitis, cholelith, gallbladder rupture and peritonitis 40

*

Mostly periportal in location

†

Mostly periacinar in location

‡

Does not increase in cats treated with glucocorticoids

§

Not used routinely

LC = lymphocytic cholangitis; AD-PKD = autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; EHBDO = extrahepatic bile duct obstruction; CBD = common bile duct; LFC = cholangitis due to liver flukes; NC = neutrophilic cholangitis; t1/2 = half-life in the circulation