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There are three main lab values that are commonly evaluated in relation to liver health: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). AST and ALT are markers of liver cell injury.
ALT and AST are liver enzymes produced by the liver. If you have high levels of ALT and AST in your blood, it could be a sign of liver disease. The ratio of ALT to AST can help diagnose the underlying cause.
Common liver enzymes include: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Alanine transaminase (ALT). Aspartate transaminase (AST). Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). If your liver is injured, it releases enzymes into your bloodstream (most commonly ALT or AST). Why does a healthcare provider check liver enzymes?
Most often, elevated liver enzymes are temporary and resolve on their own without treatment. Occasionally, elevated liver enzymes require additional tests to find out what's going on. This article explains elevated liver enzymes, including potential symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher levels of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals include liver enzymes that may appear higher than usual on blood tests. The most common elevated liver enzymes are: Alanine transaminase (ALT). Aspartate transaminase (AST). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT).
An increase in AST levels may mean liver damage, liver disease or muscle damage. This test is sometimes referred to as SGOT. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). ALP is an enzyme found in the liver and bone and is important for breaking down proteins. Higher-than-usual levels of ALP may mean liver damage or disease, such as a blocked bile duct, or ...
What does it mean if my alanine transaminase (ALT) is high? High levels of ALT in your blood can be due to damage or injury to the cells in your liver. An increased ALT level may indicate the following conditions: Alcohol-induced liver injury. Fatty liver disease (too much fat in your liver). Hepatitis (liver inflammation).
Understand the result with high, low, and normal results of AST and ALT. Symptoms of elevated or high liver enzymes in the blood include fever, abdominal pain, poor appetite, itching, and nausea. Elevated levels of AST and ALT may signify the level of liver damage and varies by person.
While both are known as liver enzymes, AST is found in more parts of your body than ALT. For this reason, higher-than-normal levels of ALT tend to be a more specific indicator of liver conditions than higher-than-normal AST levels.
A blood test can show elevated liver enzymes. The blood test checks for raised levels of AST and ALT, which are enzymes that the liver releases when it becomes inflamed or damaged.