They comprise a panel of serum markers of liver dysfunction, including markers of hepatocellular dysfunction alanine transaminase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST); markers of biliary disease such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP); markers of parenchymal liver dysfunction or biliary obstruction; or total bilirubin (TB) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and albumin, useful in assessing hepatic synthetic function. Here, SLPI is linked to Decreased liver function.