Clinical Biochemistry BIPH 3230

Course description:

This course is a theoretical course covering most areas of clinical biochemistry which will include the following topics: body water, electrolytes, acid-base balance and blood gases, carbohydrates metabolism and its disorders, kidney function tests (KFT) and its disorders, liver function tests (LFT) and its disorders, clinical enzymology, proteins metabolism and its disorders, tumor markers and their clinical values in cancer management and hormones of endocrine system and their disorders.

Course Aims:

The course aims to understand:
  • The distribution of water, sodium and potassium in different fluid compartment of the body.
  • The causes of hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and hypokalemia.
  • More about kidney function tests (creatinine, urea and uric acid) and their important in diagnosing kidney disorders.
  • The biochemical measurements that is important in diagnosing diabetes, monitoring its control and treating its metabolic complications.
  • The biochemical functions of the liver.
  • The different reasons for jaundice and how the pattern of liver function tests can aid the differential diagnosis of liver diseases.
  • The nature of enzyme, including physical composition, structure, classification, factors affecting the rate of reaction and why the measurement of serum enzyme level is clinically useful.
  • The general causes of abnormal serum protein concentrations and to differentiate the types of proteinuria on the basis etiology and type of protein found in urine or in cerebrospinal fluid.
  • The general causes of serum lipids (HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol) and their relationship to coronary heart disease.

Course outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:  
  • Discuss the role of the kidney in electrolyte excretion and conservation in a healthy individual and the usefulness of serum electrolyte results: sodium, potassium and chloride.
  • Explain the clinical significance of pH, blood gases, actual bicarbonate and carbonic acid. 3. Identify some common causes of respiratory acidosis and alkalosis and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis.
  • Discuss the usefulness of kidney function tests (creatinine, urea and uric acid) in evaluation the state of kidney.
  • Identify the primary biological function and metabolism of carbohydrates in human’s body. 
  • Identify and explain role of hormones in glucose metabolism.
  • Discuss the types of diabetes mellitus and symptoms of hyper and hypoglycemia.
  • Define jaundice and classify the types of jaundice. Compare and contrast how total and direct bilirubin is used to assess hepatocellular hepatobiliary disorders.
  • List enzymes are clinical useful in diagnosis of various disorders: including: cardiac, hepatic, bone, muscles, prostate malignancies and acute pancreatitis.