Produced by
the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Alcohol workshop:  screening, assessment and      
management in general practice      
home topic information CME remaining work

Case Study
Phil: Physical effects of alcohol

Introduction and Aims
Alcohol related problems
Contributing factor
Physical complications of alcohol use
Physical consequences
Physical signs of alcohol abuse
Suggestive sign
GGT
GGT results
Other causes of abnormal liver enzymes
Elevated GGT
AST/ALT
Elevated AST/ALT
Giving feedback
About abnormal tests
Improvement in liver function tests
Rate of change
Other blood tests
MCV and other tests
GGT as a screening test
Sensitivity of GGT screening
Quick quiz
Quiz answers

Improvement in liver function tests

If Phil reduces his consumption of alcohol, over what time frame might his liver function tests be expected to improve?
GGT is likely to return to normal within two weeks.
GGT is likely to return to normal within four weeks.
AST and ALT are likely to improve more slowly than GGT.
 

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