investigations

Last reviewed 01/2018

General investigations include:

  • full blood count and film
  • urea and electrolytes
  • clotting studies

Specific investigations include:

  • alpha-1-antitrypsin, which is decreased
  • immunoreactive trypsin, which is raised
  • liver biopsy - usually normal in this condition, in contrast to Reye's syndrome where fatty infiltration is seen
  • ammonia levels are only slightly raised, whereas in Reye's syndrome they are very high