Table.

Results of investigations of patients with abnormal results for liver function

No of patients	Result
Review of doctors' notes for patients not under hospital follow up (n=342)
38	Repeated liver function tests normal when requested by doctor
39	Died
30	Left practice (no follow up possible)
69	No further investigation appropriate (age, cancer, congestive heart failure)
9	Referred to hospital, awaiting outpatient appointment
157	Partial or no investigation
Positive test results in patients being managed by doctor (n=7)
3	Antimitochondrial antibody
2	Increased ferritin concentration
1	Bile duct 9 mm on ultrasonography, stones in gall bladder
1	Smooth muscle antibody
Final diagnoses fully investigated (n=157)
36	Normal result for repeated liver function test requested by liver clinic
18	Normal results for serological tests; declined liver biopsy
6	Normal liver on biopsy
42	Alcoholic liver disease (23 with cirrhosis)
26	Fatty liver or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (11 fibrotic on biopsy)
5	Primary biliary cirrhosis
4	Primary haemochromatosis
2	Hepatitis B
6	Hepatitis C
2	Autoimmune hepatitis
2	Common bile duct stones
1	Primary sclerosing cholangitis
1	α1 antitrypsin deficiency
6	Cryptogenic hepatitis