Drought can also have significant impacts on the economy. For example, in the first year of a severe drought from 2007 to 2009, the U.S. Southeast lost over $1.3 billion due to destruction of major crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, and hay.
Less common causes include Î±1-antitrypsin deficiency, autoimmune hepatitis, and Wilson disease. Extrahepatic conditions (e.g., thyroid disorders, celiac disease, hemolysis, muscle disorders) can also cause elevated liver transaminase levels.
The commonly used liver function tests (LFTs) primarily assess liver injury rather than hepatic function. Indeed, these blood tests may reflect problems arising outside the liver, such as hemolysis (elevated bilirubin level) or bone disease (elevated alkaline phosphatase [AP] level).