Liver function test in Seoul, with answers you understand

What a liver function test in Seoul measures

A liver function test, often called LFTs or a liver panel, is a group of blood tests that show whether liver cells are under stress, whether bile is flowing normally and how well the liver makes proteins. You might need a liver function test in Seoul for a checkup, before starting a medication, for a visa or employment physical, or because a previous result was abnormal.

The test is a simple blood draw. Fasting is not always required, but if it is combined with glucose or cholesterol testing, we will ask you to fast for 8 hours.

The markers, one by one

• ALT (alanine aminotransferase): the most liver-specific enzyme; rises when liver cells are irritated, as in fatty liver or hepatitis.
• AST (aspartate aminotransferase): also found in muscle and heart; a higher AST than ALT can point to alcohol, advanced scarring or recent hard exercise.
• GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase): sensitive to alcohol and some medicines; helps tell whether a high ALP comes from the liver.
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase): reflects bile flow and bone activity; can be high in bile duct problems, pregnancy and growing teenagers.
• Bilirubin: a yellow pigment; mild isolated rises are often due to Gilbert syndrome, which is harmless.
• Albumin: a protein made by the liver; low levels may reflect long-standing liver disease, kidney loss or poor nutrition.

What high results usually mean

Mildly raised ALT is most often linked to fatty liver (MASLD), alcohol or medications. Common medication and supplement culprits include acetaminophen at high doses, some antibiotics, statins in a small number of people, anabolic steroids and many herbal or "detox" products. A hard gym session can raise AST and even ALT for several days, so mention recent exercise.

Viral hepatitis is an important consideration in Korea. Hepatitis B remains more common than in many Western countries, and hepatitis C is also tested in many workups. Other causes include autoimmune hepatitis, iron overload, thyroid problems, celiac disease and gallstones blocking a bile duct.

One abnormal result does not equal liver disease. Dr. Park looks at the pattern, how high the numbers are, and your history, then decides between a simple repeat test, further blood work such as hepatitis B and C, or an abdominal ultrasound.

Very high ALT or AST, in the hundreds or thousands, is a different situation and points to acute injury such as viral hepatitis, medication toxicity or a blocked bile duct, which needs same-day assessment.

Who should test, and the limits of the test

Testing is worthwhile if you drink regularly, have diabetes or a large waist, take long-term medications, use bodybuilding supplements, have a family history of liver disease, or were born in a region where hepatitis B is common.

Liver tests have limits. Normal enzymes do not exclude fatty liver or early scarring, and the panel does not measure fibrosis directly. Scores such as FIB-4 and imaging fill that gap. If specialist hepatology or elastography is needed, we can refer you to a hospital.

Reading a Korean checkup report

Korean health checkup reports often list liver tests with Korean labels or abbreviations, and reference ranges can differ slightly between laboratories. ALT may appear as SGPT and AST as SGOT on some reports; the numbers mean the same thing. Results are usually flagged with H for high or L for low.

Bring your report, even if it is entirely in Korean, and we will go through it with you line by line. Comparing results across several years is especially useful: a stable, mildly raised ALT tells a different story from one that is steadily climbing. If your checkup also included an abdominal ultrasound, its comments on liver fat or the gallbladder help us interpret the blood results together.

Red flags

Book a prompt visit for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, itching all over or persistent right upper abdominal pain. Go to an ER or call 119 in Korea if you have confusion or unusual drowsiness, vomiting blood, black stools, rapid abdominal swelling, or if you have taken an overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol), even if you feel well, because early treatment matters.