What does increased alat in the blood indicate? Increased blood alt

ALT is an enzyme from the group of transaminases, the full name of which is alanine aminotransferase. Its level is determined by a biochemical blood test. The substance is released during all metabolic processes, but in small quantities.

An increase in ALT concentration may indicate damage to internal organs. The largest reserves of the enzyme are in the liver, so it is considered a marker of pathologies of the hepatobiliary system. The enzyme enters the blood during the destruction of parenchymal organs and muscle tissue, which doctors determine by comparing its level and other biochemical indicators.

What is ALT and its role in the body

Alanine aminotransferase is a protein substance necessary for amino acid metabolism. Together with other similar enzymes, low molecular weight proteins are transported in this way:

  • ALT is responsible for alanine;
  • AST (aspartic aminotransferase) - for aspartic acid;
  • GGTP (gammaglutamyl transpeptidase) - for glutamic acid.

The active part of the enzyme is detached by the coenzyme pyridoxine (vitamin B6). ALT is present in all organs and muscle tissue. Increased concentrations of the enzyme are detected in parenchymal structures. The largest amount is found in the liver. In lower concentrations, ALT is determined in tissues:

  • heart muscle;
  • pancreas;
  • kidney;
  • lungs.

A small amount of the substance enters the blood during metabolism. The bulk is in the organs in a bound form. Here's the enzyme:

  • regulates metabolic rate;
  • participates in immunity;
  • involved in energy synthesis;
  • supports cell vitality.

ALT is released in large quantities during mass cell death. The more enzyme is released, the more intense the destruction process. Determining the level of ALT refers to liver tests, since it is when this organ is damaged that the deviation in enzyme levels is most noticeable.

ALT level is an unstable indicator. It depends on age and gender. The amount of enzyme can change due to hormonal fluctuations and changes in the concentration of vitamins and minerals. The level depends on the characteristics of a person’s metabolism and other individual factors. Stress, physical activity, medications, and some aspects of the patient’s lifestyle can affect the ALT value.

Table - ALT norms in blood by age

Population category Reference value, U/l
Newborns 1–2 days Up to 31
After 3 days of life Up to 50
1‒6 months Up to 56
6‒12 months Up to 52
1‒3 years Up to 33
3‒6 years Up to 30
6–18 years Up to 26
Adult women Up to 35
Adult men Up to 40
Pregnant Up to 32
Elderly people 19‒30

Indications for analysis

A blood test for ALT is carried out for the purpose of prevention, to assess the condition of the body as a whole, the preservation of the functions of internal organs, the balance of electrolytes and vitamins. The study is appropriate for early diagnosis of diseases, since it reflects the slightest changes in basic blood parameters and complements the information obtained from its general analysis. It is prescribed for suspected somatic diseases and functional disorders, the reason being the patient’s complaints.

Table - Symptoms for which ALT needs to be assessed

Category Alarm Signals
Signs of liver pathologies Jaundice (icterus of the sclera, discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, darkening of urine, discoloration of stool)

Pain in the right hypochondrium

Digestive disorders (alternating constipation and diarrhea, flatulence)

General disorders Sleep disorders (nightmares, insomnia)

Psycho-emotional instability (irritability, tearfulness, apathy, aggression)

Lack of appetite

Weakness, fatigue

Other Low-grade fever

Headaches, chest pressure

Dry mucous membranes

Brittle nails and hair

Sweating

In addition to heart and liver diseases, damage to the pancreas can be suspected based on ALT levels. Alcoholics, as well as people who regularly consume fatty, fried, smoked foods, are prone to pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis.

Deviations in biochemical data are observed in cases of extensive injuries (burns, electric shocks, muscle injuries), bone fractures, and hematological pathologies. ALT is often elevated after surgery. Physiological prerequisites for an increase in enzyme levels are stress, strain, and carbohydrate diets.

Drugs that increase ALT include oral contraceptives, glucocorticosteroid hormones, chemotherapy, antibiotics and antivirals.

Minor and pathological deviations

Assessing the degree of fermentemia (the presence of enzymes in the blood) is not considered an accurate measure for diagnosing diseases. Based on the analysis data, one can only suspect the presence of pathological processes, as well as their intensity. To draw conclusions correctly, you need to be guided by standards, permissible deviations, as well as their combinations with each other.

Since ALT always indicates cell damage, minor violations of reference values ​​(by 2-3 units) are considered physiological. Such changes are not considered a reason for further examination and are simply ignored. If the level of increase is greater, you need to look for its cause. You can suspect it by how much the ALT indicator changes:

  • up to 2 times - there may be an error during the analysis, violation of preparation rules, severe stress, overwork, medical procedures performed the day before, you need to retake the test;
  • 2-3 times - suspect alcohol consumption, significant errors in diet, injury, excessive physical activity;
  • 3-5 times - such an increase is observed against the background of the use of hepatotoxic drugs, injuries to internal organs, after surgery, burns, as well as in chronic pancreatitis;
  • 5 or more times - inflammation of the liver tissue may be suspected due to an infectious lesion;
  • 10 times - muscle dystrophy, chronic liver diseases or initial forms of destructive processes are possible;
  • 20 times or more - dangerous liver diseases, cancer progression, cirrhosis.

ALT and other indicators

In order to assess the patient’s condition with maximum accuracy, doctors analyze not only the compliance of each individual indicator with the norms, but also the combination of deviations. In serious diseases, deviations affect most biochemical parameters.


Together with ALT, the importance of another enzyme, AST, is considered. It is also present in the cells of parenchymal organs, but the bulk is concentrated in the heart muscle.

In healthy people, AST levels exceed ALT by approximately 1.5 times. In the opposite situation, metabolic disorders can be suspected when proteins are consumed to obtain energy, and carbohydrates are stored as reserves.

The de Ritis index is considered important for diagnosis. This is the ratio of AST and ALT. Its norm is 1.33, a deviation of 0.4 units upward or downward is allowed. A significant increase in the index is observed with myocardial damage (more than 2). The index approaches 2 with chronic alcoholic liver damage. Pathologies of the hepatobiliary tract provoke a significant decrease in the indicator. In most cases, elevated ALT is accompanied by an increase in bilirubin concentration.

To detect liver diseases, it is important to evaluate several enzymes (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase) and the degree of their abnormalities. The larger they are, the more intense the pathological process and the higher the threat to the health and life of the patient.

Table - Deviation of enzyme levels

Mild and moderate disorders are observed in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, as well as in the initial stages of the development of tumor diseases. An average increase accompanies chronic inflammatory lesions of the gland and ethanol poisoning. A significant increase in indicators is observed in acute forms of hepatitis, toxic damage, as well as in the later stages of cancer or cirrhosis.

Why is ALT elevated during pregnancy?

While carrying a child, the female body undergoes total changes. First of all, metamorphoses affect hormonal levels. Concentrations of bioactive substances constantly increase until childbirth. The enlargement of the uterus and baby is accompanied by pressure on the internal organs. All of them suffer from increased stress associated with the need to supply the fetus with nutrients, utilize the products of its metabolism, and increase blood volume.

The normal ALT level for pregnant women should be below 32 U/L. The rate increases slightly in the first and third trimester. Moderate changes are considered normal. If a woman did not suffer from heart or liver disease before conception and does not complain of poor health, treatment is not required. The growth of indices by more than 1.5 times requires increased attention. This may be a signal of the development of gestosis, eclampsia, diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver or gall bladder. This often happens against the background of long-term use of progestogen medications - Duphaston, Utrozhestan, Susten.

ALT in children

The concentration of alanine aminotransferase is increased in children of the first year of life. This is due to the active development of organs and systems, adaptation mechanisms that are aimed at adapting to life outside the mother’s womb. The second peak occurs during puberty. At this time, the child is growing rapidly, and hormonal levels are developing. As development slows, ALT levels decrease and remain stable. If enzyme levels are greatly elevated, this indicates dangerous diseases (as in adults).

What to do if ALT is elevated

In most cases, doctors recommend taking the test again (in case of an error during the blood test or violation of the preparation rules). Additional examination is prescribed only if significant deviations are detected again. It often includes a general blood and urine test, ultrasound of the liver and other internal organs, MRI or CT, and tests for tumor markers.

Different laboratories use different equipment for analysis and use different units of measurement. In this case, a high indicator may be perceived by the patient himself as a deviation, when in fact there is none. In addition, ALT needs to be assessed along with other values. Without special knowledge, it is difficult to correctly understand the results.

If there are deviations in blood biochemistry results, you should consult a doctor. The child should be shown to a pediatrician, pregnant women should make an appointment with their obstetrician-gynecologist, and adults should make an appointment with the doctor who prescribed the examination or with a therapist. It is better not to draw independent conclusions, but to entrust the reading of the research protocol to a specialist.

In addition to the analysis itself, it is important to collect a family history, interview the patient for complaints, and conduct a physical examination to detect objective symptoms of the pathology. All this will help narrow down the search for the disease that caused the increase in ALT.


How to be treated

ALT level is a laboratory indicator, a sign of destruction of cells of parenchymal organs. The enzyme elevation itself cannot be treated. Therapy is completely aimed at the underlying disease, which provoked a shift in the result outside the normal range. It is important to stop destructive processes and start organ regeneration (if possible). With irreversible changes, the goal of treatment is to slow down the destruction and provide surgical assistance (liver transplantation, for example).

The list of medications depends entirely on the nature of the disease (for infections, antiviral or antibiotics are prescribed, for oncological pathologies - chemotherapy). The treatment regimen is selected based on the patient’s condition. If the ALT level is significantly exceeded, the patient is observed in the hospital (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cholestasis). Minor deviations that do not pose a threat to the patient’s life can be corrected on an outpatient basis.

The main group of drugs that are used when enzyme levels deviate from the norm are hepatoprotectors. The products in this group have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They improve the functioning and trigger the restoration of hepatocytes, optimize the synthesis and properties of bile, preventing its stagnation in the ducts.

Most of the hepatoprotectors have anti-inflammatory properties. The majority of these drugs have similar indications. Some of them are used in the complex therapy of hepatitis, hepatosis and cirrhosis, and some are used for disorders of the biliary tract accompanied by cholestasis (cholelithiasis, cholelithiasis).

Table - The best hepatoprotectors

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is a diet necessary for elevated ALT?

Answer: Diet therapy is a mandatory aspect of the complex treatment of any liver pathology. Its task is to reduce the load on the gland, ensure normal outflow of bile and optimize metabolic processes. A therapeutic diet is recommended even for minor deviations in children and pregnant women, so as not to aggravate liver damage. It is also necessary to adjust the diet in cases where it is necessary to be treated with drugs that are dangerous to the organ (antiviral agents or powerful antibiotics). In most cases, doctors recommend adhering to the Pevzner 5 diet (for diseases of the liver, gallstones, and pancreas).

Question: The diet menu is so complex... Is it possible to briefly describe the general principles of nutrition for high enzymes?

Answer: Everything harmful is excluded from the diet - fatty, fried, smoked, flour, sweets, canned food, marinades and pickles, fast food, soda and alcohol. The menu should include all types of cereals (except pearl barley), easily digestible proteins (chicken, fish, turkey, dairy products), lots of vegetables and fruits (in any form). It is important to replace animal fats with cold-pressed vegetable oils (to season porridges and salads with them), and to introduce nuts into the menu. You need to eat fractionally, in small portions, every 3 hours to optimize the secretion of bile. You should follow a drinking regime (1.5 liters of water per day, in addition to other liquids).

Question: Is it possible to reduce the rate using traditional methods (without drugs or diets)?

Answer: As part of complex therapy for liver pathologies, you can use herbal remedies (decoctions and infusions). For example, liver extract, Hepatofit tea, milk thistle meal. People recommend brewing corn silk, dandelion root, yarrow, St. John's wort, and peppermint. All these methods can be auxiliary or used to prevent bile stagnation. When treating serious diseases, herbs alone cannot be used. Moreover, herbal medicine and vitamins can only cause harm during the development of cancer pathologies. Before using any folk recipe, it is better to consult your doctor.


Question: Can high ALT be a false result?

Answer: Maybe. An error should be suspected if only this indicator is increased or the deviations are minor (up to 2 times). This is why biochemistry often has to be retaken. To be on the safe side, you should prepare properly for the test:

  • Avoid alcohol and medications a week before donating blood;
  • limit junk food for 3 days;
  • eliminate stress, overexertion and physical activity on the eve of the analysis;
  • Donate blood only in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Even if all conditions are met, but the result shows deviations, it is better to repeat the analysis. This will eliminate pointless visits to doctors and costs for hardware diagnostic methods.

Question: By what symptoms can you understand that ALT is elevated and it’s time to take a biochemical blood test?

Answer: An increase in the level of enzymes in the blood does not cause specific symptoms. Clinical signs can only suggest the presence of a disease that can cause ALT deviations from normal, for example:

  • damage to the pancreas is accompanied by girdle pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, stool disorders, and fever;
  • liver pathologies are manifested by pain under the right rib, jaundice, periodic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, general disorders;
  • heart disease can be suspected by pressing and stabbing pain in the chest (often radiating to the arm, shoulder blade, collarbone), shortness of breath, swelling, cyanosis of the extremities.

Conclusions

ALT is an important laboratory sign that helps assess the health of internal organs. The average norm for adults and school-age children is 35 U/l. Deviations mainly indicate diseases of the liver, heart, pancreas and can indirectly indicate pathology of the kidneys and lungs. When ALT levels increase, liver disorders, or more precisely, cell destruction, are first suspected. To accurately determine the problem, ALT is considered in combination with bilirubin and other enzymes. A full diagnosis can be made by comparing the results of biochemistry, general blood and urine tests, and ultrasound of internal organs. It is not high ALT that needs to be treated, but the disease that caused its increase.

Along with ALT, another enzyme is always considered - A WITH T (aspartate aminotransferase). In women it should be up to 31 U/l, in men up to 41 U/l. An increase in the concentration of AST in the blood indicates the destruction of cells of the heart, liver, pancreas and other organs.

Among the many enzymes that are indicators of hepatocellular disorders, the most useful and necessary are alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Thanks to them, the reactions of transfer of the gamma groups of alanine and aspartate to the gamma group of ketoglutarate are accelerated. As a result of this process, pyruvic and oxaloacetic acids are formed.

Both ALT and AST are cellular enzymes of the kidneys, liver, and heart. But alanine aminotransferase, first of all, is located in the liver and is considered its most basic indicator, and aspartate aminotransferase is found in many (in addition to those listed above) organs and tissues, including skeletal muscles, brain, etc. That is why the key enzyme AST is less characteristic as an indicator of liver function, and it takes part in amino acid metabolism.

If liver, heart, and kidney cells are destroyed, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) enters the blood. An increase in this cellular enzyme in the blood indicates hidden diseases. When studies show that the blood level of ALT is high, quite serious diseases may develop, such as:

And an increase in aspartate aminotransferase in the blood can lead to

If the total AST and ALT levels are elevated, the following are possible:

Extensive hepatic necrosis,

Toxinogenic liver damage,

Severe viral hepatitis,

Prolonged vascular collapse.

In almost all human diseases, blood tests show that both AST and ALT are elevated, that is, the level of both enzymes in these cases is almost the same and indicates the presence of pathology. But there is still one difference. If ALT is elevated to a greater extent than aspartate aminotransferase, this indicates the incubation period for the development of infectious hepatitis. If there is more AST in the blood, this is most often a heart problem.

In a healthy person, the content of these cellular enzymes should be at the level of:

In men, up to 41 units per liter (U/L);

In women, up to 31 units per liter (U/L).

To determine the level of these enzymes of protein metabolism, a biochemical blood test is taken. The norm for ALT in it will be 28-190 nmol/(s l) or 0.1-.68 µmol/(ml h), and for AST - 28-25 nmol/(s l) or 0.1-.45 µmol /(ml h). This norm for both cases is given for the Reitman-Frenkel method (colorimetric research method).

Typically, blood tests for alanine aminotransferase are carried out to find out about the condition of the liver, and for aspartate aminotransferase - to see the condition of the myocardium (heart muscle). If the analysis shows their increased content in the blood, it means that processes of destruction and cell death are occurring in these organs. So, if AST exceeded its level in the blood by 2-20 times, then the development of myocardial infarction is quite possible. If ALT is elevated, a pathological process occurs in the liver.

If alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the blood are low, experts know that there is a lack of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) in the body. This usually happens during pregnancy, with frequent hemodialysis and renal failure.

Unfortunately, where these enzymes come from in the blood serum of a healthy person is still unknown, so the mechanism of their clearance (an indicator of the speed of purification of plasma, other biological fluids and tissues from any substances due to their redistribution, biotransformation, and excretion from the body) is also unclear.

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Norms and changes in blood tests for ALT and AST

Biochemical blood tests for ALT and AST are most often prescribed in the diagnosis of liver diseases. In some cases, the doctor prescribes these studies to the patient when diagnosing pathologies of the cardiovascular system and skeletal muscles. What do the designations AlAT and AST mean, and what can deviations of these indicators from the norm indicate?

Biochemical blood test for ALT

Alanine aminotransferase (AlAT) is an intracellular enzyme from the group of aminotransferases that takes part in the metabolism of amino acids.

The largest amount of alanine aminotransferase is found in liver and kidney cells. A slightly lower content of this enzyme is found in the cells of the heart muscle, skeletal muscles, spleen, pancreas, lungs, and red blood cells. ALT activity in the blood serum of men is slightly higher than that of women.

There are certain indications for conducting a blood test to determine the level of alanine aminotransferase:

  • diagnosing liver diseases;
  • control of patients with different types of hepatitis;
  • examination of contact persons in the outbreak of viral hepatitis;
  • donor examination.

The ALT level in a blood test depends on age. In addition, the activity of this enzyme is slightly higher in men than in women.

The value of the ALT norm in a blood test in children under six months is less than 60 U/L, under one year – less than 54 U/L, under six years – less than 30 U/L, under 12 years – less than 38 U/L. For boys under 18 years of age, this figure should normally not exceed 27 U/l, for girls under 18 years of age – 24 U/l. For adult men, the normal value of ALT in the blood is less than 41 U/L, for adult women – less than 31 U/L.

An increase in the value of alanine aminotransferase in a blood test is observed in the following pathologies:

  • viral hepatitis;
  • toxic liver damage;
  • cirrhosis;
  • primary or metastatic liver cancer;
  • fatty hepatosis;
  • obstructive jaundice;
  • severe pancreatitis;
  • hypoxia, shock (usually in an asthmatic state);
  • myocarditis, extensive myocardial infarction;
  • myodystrophy, myositis;
  • right heart failure;
  • severe burns;
  • chronic alcoholism;
  • some hemolytic diseases;
  • taking hepatotoxic drugs (immunosuppressants, antibiotics, anabolic steroids, psychotropic drugs, antitumor drugs, contraceptives, sulfa drugs, salicylates).

Biochemical blood test for AST

In most cases, the doctor prescribes blood tests for ALT and AST at the same time.

Aspartaminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of amino acids. Its greatest amount is found in the cells of the liver, cardiac myocardium, nerve tissue, and muscles. This enzyme is also found in the cells of the pancreas, kidneys, and lungs. In case of damage and pathologies of the above organs, AST is released into the bloodstream, and therefore its content in the blood test increases.

Indications for prescribing a blood test for AST are the following situations:

  • diagnosing liver pathologies;
  • diagnosis of myocardial infarction and some other diseases of the heart muscle;
  • diagnosing pathologies of skeletal muscles.

The AST level in the blood of children under 12 months should be no higher than 60 U/L, up to nine years old - no higher than 55 U/L, in adult men - less than 41 U/L, in adult women - less than 31 U/L.

The level of aspartaminotransferase in the blood increases with the following diseases and conditions:

  • toxic, viral, alcoholic hepatitis;
  • primary and metastatic liver cancer;
  • acute pancreatitis;
  • cholestasis;
  • severe attack of angina, myocardial infarction;
  • pulmonary artery thrombosis;
  • angiocardiography, cardiac surgery;
  • rheumatic carditis in the acute stage;
  • myopathies (chronic muscle diseases);
  • skeletal muscle injuries;
  • heatstroke;
  • burns.

A slight increase in AST is observed with excessive muscle load.

A decrease in the level of this enzyme in the blood indicates a deficiency of vitamin B6 in the body and severe liver pathologies (liver rupture).

How to properly take blood tests for ALT and AST?

In order to avoid false deviations from the norm in blood tests for ALT, as well as AST, it is necessary to properly prepare for blood donation.

The day before blood sampling, you need to exclude fried, fatty, spicy foods, and alcoholic beverages from your diet. It is recommended to avoid increased physical activity.

Blood is taken for analysis in the morning on an empty stomach; at least eight hours must have passed since the last meal.

You should not donate blood for these studies immediately after fluorography, radiography, ultrasound, rectal examination, or physiotherapeutic procedures.

If the patient is taking any medications, he must notify the doctor prescribing the test. Some medications can significantly distort test results.

A competent interpretation of a biochemical blood test for ALT, as well as AST, can only be done by a qualified doctor.

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What do blood tests for ALAT and AST show?

2 Norms of indicators

Norm number of units per 1 liter of blood:

  • ALT - in men up to 40 units/l, and in women up to 32 units/l;
  • AST - in men from 15 - 31 units/l, and in women from 20 - 40 units/l.

What is a biochemical blood test? When a study is carried out in laboratory conditions, this is a biochemical analysis. It is a guideline for the attending physician, since it shows a complete picture of the work of all vital organs:

  • liver,
  • pancreas,
  • kidney,
  • gallbladder, etc.

This analysis considers the following indicators:

  • blood glucose levels;
  • bilirubin;
  • ASAT and ALAT;
  • gamma - GT;
  • alkaline phosphatase;
  • cholesterol;
  • LDL (bad fats);
  • triglycerides;
  • total protein;
  • albumen;
  • potassium;
  • sodium;
  • chlorine;
  • createnine;
  • urea and uric acid;
  • C-reactive protein (CRP);
  • iron.

If there is a deviation from the norm of one or another indicator, it becomes clear to the doctor what exactly needs to be regulated or treated.

3 Preparation for submitting material for research

If the patient is taking any medications, then most likely, shortly before the test, the doctor will stop the drug that can change the accuracy of the blood test. Donate blood in the morning on an empty stomach (last meal 12 hours before).

To prepare for the analysis you need:

  1. 1. Avoid alcohol the day before donating blood.
  2. 2. Give up cigarettes within an hour.
  3. 3. Chewing gum should also not be chewed.
  4. 4. You can’t drink any liquids either.

For analysis, blood is taken from a vein. The answer will be in one day. Deciphering the analysis without medical knowledge is impossible, so consultation with a doctor is necessary.

In most cases, elevated ALAT levels are associated with liver pathology. This is a sign that there is a disease of this organ. It should be noted that in a biochemical blood test, the level of this enzyme is higher than normal 1 or 4 weeks before the onset of symptoms of the disease. And in the acute period of the disease, the indicators increase almost 10 times.

In 1 minute, the liver can cleanse or neutralize up to a million molecules of toxic substances, and in about an hour - up to 100 liters of blood. Sometimes for some reason the cells are damaged, the contents of the cells come out and enter the blood. If such indicators are high in a biochemical blood test, this will mean that cell destruction is occurring in the body.

4 Why does the ALAT enzyme increase in the blood?

There can be many reasons for increasing the amount of ALAT enzyme:

  • excess fat deposited in liver cells;
  • hepatitis, jaundice;
  • cirrhosis;
  • taking medications, for example Paracetamol or antibiotics;
  • chemical poisoning;
  • tumor, cancer or metastases;
  • myocardial infarction, heart surgery;
  • muscle injuries;
  • alcohol addiction.

If the body does not have enough vitamin B6, the level of this enzyme in the blood will decrease.
The liver is a unique organ that can recover in 3 months if treated.

ACAT, like the previous enzyme, transports (transfers) amino acids from molecule to molecule. It contains vitamin B6. As a result of the work of enzymes, glucogens are formed (sugars, but not from carbohydrates), which support the body during exercise, fasting, when energy is needed, i.e. this enzyme is a participant in energy exchange.

The difference between these two enzymes is that an increased level of ASAT in the blood warns primarily of heart disease, more precisely, of myocardial infarction. The largest share of the ACAT enzyme is found in muscle tissue - the myocardium and muscles. In other organs their concentration is lower.

When taking the test, a person’s age and gender matter. Since muscles play a leading role in this analysis, men have more muscle mass than women, and accordingly, the indicators will be high. In children, the rates will be higher due to the active development of the muscular skeleton.

Indicators will be changeable in pregnant women. Increased levels of the hormone estrogen affect the liver, so increases in ALT and AST in pregnant women are considered normal. But if high levels are accompanied by toxicosis, then urgent treatment is required, because it can be dangerous for both the baby and the mother. If a pregnant woman does not eat properly, she may become deficient in vitamin B6, and then a blood test will show a decrease in AST and ALT levels.

5 Why does the AST level deviate from the norm?

The reasons for the increase and decrease in AST levels are almost the same as with ALT, only if with ALAT the condition of the liver is put in the foreground, then in the case of AST - the heart and muscles.

Some of the reasons:

  1. 1. Heart - myocardial infarction, coronary insufficiency, heart surgery, angina pectoris, tachycardia, rheumatic carditis, arterial blood clots.
  2. 2. Liver.
  3. 3. Gallbladder.
  4. 4. Pancreas.

After receiving laboratory tests, doctors are left to determine the disease process of the organ in which the disturbances occurred. What is needed to normalize the level of ALT and AST enzymes:

  1. 1. Do not drink alcohol, even in small doses.
  2. 2. Review medications and, if necessary, change medications.
  3. 3. Cure inflammatory processes in the body.
  4. 4. Take a course of liver or heart treatment.
  5. 5. Change your lifestyle, in particular, review your diet. Avoid unhealthy fats and include healthy foods in your diet.

All treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor in order to properly normalize enzyme levels. Usually, if AST or ALT is abnormal, a hepatologist or cardiologist is consulted.

Medicines that increase the level of these enzymes:

  • Heparin;
  • antibiotics;
  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs);
  • antifungal;
  • anticonvulsants;
  • lowering blood sugar;
  • fluoroquinolones - antimicrobial drugs;
  • nitrofurans - antibacterial drugs;
  • stanina - cholesterol-lowering drugs.

If the body lacks vitamin B6, then enzyme activity will be reduced. In this case, it is useful to eat foods rich in this vitamin:

  1. 1. Sprouted grains, any.
  2. 2. Walnuts.
  3. 3. Legumes, soybeans, cereals.
  4. 4. Vegetables - carrots, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes.
  5. 5. Strawberries, lemon, oranges, cherries.
  6. 6. Meat and dairy products, eggs, fish.

Normalizing enzyme levels is not difficult, you just need to take the appropriate test and follow the doctor's instructions.

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Almost any problem in the human body affects the composition of the blood, so its biochemical analysis serves as the basis for diagnosis. As a result, many patients are interested in ALT and AST levels. Liver enzyme tests are the most important method for detecting severe liver diseases.

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These substances are representatives of the enzyme group, which normally have low levels in the blood. In diseases accompanied by cell destruction, the indicators of these enzymes in analyzes increase several times and even tens of times, which confirms the presence of a pathological process.

Importance of liver enzymes

A separate class of enzymes are transferases, catalysts for the transfer of molecular residues and functional groups from molecule to molecule.

Transferases are involved in the transformation of nucleic acids and amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates. The most significant liver enzymes are considered to be ALT and AST, which perform several tasks at once.

  • Molecular intracellular synthesis ensures sufficient liver functionality.
  • Enzymatic diagnostics, carried out by measuring the degree of enzyme activity in the blood. The reliability of this method is based on the fact that liver enzymes in a healthy person are contained inside the cell, leaving it only after the death of the cell itself.
  • The prognostic role of enzymes is associated with the characteristics of their dynamics in the blood, which directly depends on the nature of the course and severity of the disease.
  • The medicinal role of enzymes is to use special enzyme preparations when they are deficient in the body.

What is alanine aminotransferase (ALAT)

The functioning of the human body is ensured by multiple chemical processes that are both cyclical and interconnected, continuous and consistent. Enzymes play a major role in blood filtration and digestion systems. Alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) is the main liver enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism. Most of the enzyme is found in the liver, with small amounts in the kidneys, cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Alanine itself is important as a source of rapid glucose production to nourish the brain and central nervous system. Studying the level of ALT and AST in the blood greatly facilitates the diagnosis and prognosis of severe diseases and damage to the liver, heart and pancreas.

The specificity of ALT makes it possible to differentiate diseases according to the degree of excess of standard values, which is very important when symptoms are weak and the manifestations of various diseases are similar. Using ALT readings in combination with other tests, the doctor can determine the extent of organ damage and make a prognosis for the course of the disease.

Why is an ALT test done?

The endogenous enzyme ALT serves as a reliable marker of liver tests - liver pathologies in diagnostic laboratory practice. Alanine aminotransferase is formed due to intracellular synthesis, so it is present in the blood in small doses.

Blood test for contentAlATin a healthy person it shows a minimum value. Diseases or damage to the liver cause the death of its cells, and the intracellular liver enzyme ALT is released into the blood, which, along with other indicators, is a fairly informative indicator of disease processes. Any deviation of the enzyme indicator from the standard range, especially upward, is an indisputable sign of an incipient liver disease or an extensive process of its destruction

Elevated ALT levels may also be observed in pregnant women, during a heart attack, and in certain pathological conditions. An increase in the dose of ALT in the blood is observed before the manifestations of jaundice, which allows for early diagnosis of liver diseases.

Who is prescribed an ALT test?

An ALT test is prescribed in the presence of certain symptoms and factors:

Symptoms of liver disease:

  • weakness, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting;
  • abdominal pain, jaundice;
  • dark urine and light-colored feces.

Risk factors for liver disease:

  • previous hepatitis,
  • alcohol addiction,
  • diabetes and obesity,
  • hereditary reasons
  • taking medications that have an aggressive effect on the liver.

ALT blood test is carried out for the following purposes:

  • checking for possible liver damage due to injury;
  • identification of drug and alcohol addiction within the framework of a set of interrelated indicators;
  • assessment of the effect of anticholesterol therapy and a number of other drugs that are relatively toxic to the liver;
  • Finding out the cause of the patient’s jaundice – liver disease or blood dysfunction.

A patient who is prescribed an ALT test should inform his doctor about the presence of reasons that could reduce the accuracy of the test results:

  • taking certain medications, dietary supplements and herbal infusions (oral contraceptives and aspirin, warfarin and paracetamol, infusions of valerian and echinacea);
  • possible pregnancy;
  • presence of allergies;
  • completing a course of intramuscular injections;
  • rehabilitation period after cardiac surgery or cardiac catheterization;
  • active physical activity before the test.

The test is performed on the patient's venous blood and results can be available in approximately 12 hours.

ALT elevation levels

Standard indicator ALT as part of the diagnostic complex " “may vary slightly in different laboratories, but on average the limits of this indicator for men are 10–40 U/l, for women – from 7 to 35 U/l. The criteria for differentiating diseases are levels of excess of the ALT norm:

Minor:

  • taking medications and chemicals (antibiotics and barbiturates, chemotherapy and drugs),
  • cirrhosis,
  • fatty liver disease;

Moderate and medium:

  • alcohol poisoning,
  • some forms of hepatitis,
  • growth problems in adolescents;

High:

  • cancer tumor necrosis,
  • viral hepatitis,
  • state of shock.

How does the level of alanine aminotransferase in hepatitis depend on gender?

Russian scientists, having examined 320 people, including both sick people and healthy people (control group), found that in women with chronic hepatitis, the ALT indicator in 78.6% of cases does not correspond to the severity of the disease. Some patients even had normal levels.alanine aminotransferase.

In men, the number of cases of hepatitis that is not accompanied by exceeding the concentration of this enzyme was only 21.4%, that is, the difference between the sexes is 3.7 times. Moreover, even with approximately the same severity of the disease, in women this indicator was 1.5 times lower.

The female body has great potential to combat liver pathology, so if a representative of the fairer sex has clear signs of “liver problems,” then oneanalysisfor alanine aminotransferase is not enough - it may not be informative. You need to at least go further.

In order to get a real picture of the functioning of the liver, it is necessary to carry out other liver tests, then it is possible to more accurately say whether a woman has this pathology or not. Representatives of the fair sex often experience a latent course of chronic hepatitis, when symptoms of liver damage appear later, in the presence of pronounced, sometimes irreversible, changes. In addition, they are characterized by a more rapid restoration of normal ALT levels after Botkin’s disease, which is also associated with the physiological characteristics of the female body.

All these factors must be taken into account when examining men and women for the presence of liver pathologies.

Dependence of alanine aminotransferase levels on gender in viral hepatitis

ALAT normwith various types of hepatitis it can increase 20 or even 100 times. In this case, the cause of this pathology (viruses, poisoning, hemolysis of red blood cells) does not play a role.

  • For Botkin's disease an increase in this biochemical indicator can be observed even before the appearance of jaundice and other clinical symptoms. Alsonormal level of ALT in the bloodmay be elevated for some time after recovery, returning to normal(women - 31 U/l; men - 45 U/l) after two to three weeks.
  • For “syringe” viral hepatitis, especially those with a chronic and protracted course (CVH), this indicator can constantly fluctuate either down or up. Sometimes it depends on the stage of the infectious process, and in some cases such jumps are difficult to explain.
  • Mechanical (obstructive) jaundice also causes abrupt changes in the concentration of ALaT. With this pathologylevelalanine aminotransferase in the blood can rise to 600 U/l in a day, and then spontaneously return to normal in about two days.

If obstructive jaundice is due to primary liver cancer, the concentration of alanine aminotransferase remains consistently high.

Features of ALT norms in pregnant women

In a healthy woman, the ALT norm does not change during pregnancy and should coincide with the values ​​before conception. In cases where ALT is slightly increased during pregnancy, causes not related to diseases can be considered:

  • course of intramuscular injections;
  • physical activity that is excessive for a pregnant woman;
  • addiction to fast food;
  • uncontrolled intake of dietary supplements;
  • obesity;
  • fetal pressure on the biliary tract, preventing the outflow of bile.

Normalization of nutrition, moderation of physical activity, weight control and choleretic drugs normalize enzyme parameters.

Dependence of ALT level on age and other indicators

During a person's life, the level of ALaT changes. You need to know this in order to correctly decipher ALT in a biochemical blood test.

  • In healthy full-term newborns, the alanine aminotransferase rate ranges from 10 to 17 U/l.
  • If the baby was born prematurely, then this figure can be 13–26 U/l, and the level of this substance in the blood of such babies changes almost daily.
  • From the sixth day of life to six months of age, the upper limit of alanine aminotransferase increases slightly and amounts to 30 U/l. This is explained by the fact that in the first six months all biochemical mechanisms are gradually “launched” in the baby’s body, because the child adapts to existence outside the mother’s womb.
  • From seven months to a year, this figure fluctuates between 13–29 U/l. At this time, the indicators for boys and girls do not yet differ.
  • From one year to 14 years, the concentration of alanine aminotransferase in boys and girls is different. Moreover, in the female body it will be lower than in the male body. For girls of preschool age, the norm will be considered a concentration of 13–18 U/l, and for boys the upper limit is already 22 U/l. This trend will continue throughout your life.

Alanine aminotransferase levels in adults

  • Before reaching the age of 60, the norm for alanine aminotransferase in men is 10–45 U/l, while the normal ALT in women during this period is only 10–31 U/l.
  • The level of this substance in the blood can only change during pregnancy, and then not in all women. In some cases it remains unchanged. If the expectant mother's ALT level is slightly elevated and is 35 U/L, this is not a cause for concern. An increase in ALT during pregnancy is caused by the fact that the enlarged uterus may slightly compress the bile ducts or a slight bend has appeared in the bile ducts. There is no need to be afraid of this state of affairs - after childbirth, the uterus will shrink and the indicators will return to normal. However, if the increase in ALaT in the blood during pregnancy continues, and the concentration of this substance reaches high levels, additional examinations should be performed, as this may be associated with impaired functioning of the liver, kidneys and heart.
  • When people “step over” the 60-year barrier, the level of alanine aminotransferase in the blood also changes. Normally, ALT in men of this age ranges from 10 to 40 U/l, and for females it will be 10–28 U/l. The concentration of alanine aminotransferase remains at this level until the end of life.

However, a normal blood level of this substance does not always indicate that a person is healthy. In some cases, even with severe pathology of the liver and kidneys, the indicator does not change, especially for representatives of the fairer sex. That's why isolated concentration study of this enzyme in the blood is prescribed very rarely. Most often, other biochemical indicators are analyzed in parallel, which allows a much more accurate understanding of the state of the body.

What is aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

The endogenous enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is responsible for accelerating the release of ammonia from amino acids for its subsequent processing in the urea cycle. AST is found not only in the liver, but also in the heart muscle and brain, kidneys and spleen, lungs and pancreas. Due to the intracellular nature of synthesis, AST is successfully used in diagnosing the condition of the myocardium and liver. Using a biochemical blood test for AST and ALT, as well as their ratio, doctors are able to predict a heart attack even before the main symptoms appear.

AST is also used as a marker in the differentiated diagnosis of a number of diseases:

  • Cirrhosis and hepatitis;
  • Metastases in the liver;
  • Jaundice of various origins.

If, according to the results of the study, high ALT levels are much greater than the excess of the norm for AST, this is a characteristic sign of liver damage. If AST is increased more than ALT, the possibility of myocardial cell death should be considered. Excessive activity of alanine aminotransferase is also possible during the period of taking certain medications. Reduced values ​​of AST and ALT are possible during pregnancy, renal failure or pyridoxine deficiency.

Where to take liver tests in St. Petersburg

You can take any tests, including tests for liver enzymes AlAT and ACaT. The clinic is located in St. Petersburg, next to the metro. We guarantee accurate results, sterility and confidentiality.

ALT or AlAT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST or AST (aspartate aminotransferase) are a combination of complex protein molecules with non-membrane permanent cell elements, otherwise enzymes. Their main purpose is to accelerate the chemical reaction of amino acids (alanine and aspartic), which mediate the connection between protein and carbohydrate metabolism. The production of enzymes in the body occurs endogenously, that is, intracellularly, therefore in the blood of a healthy person the concentration of AST and ALT is insignificant.

General information about ALT

The main location of alanine aminotransferase is hepatocytes (liver cells). In smaller quantities, it is found in the myocardium, pancreas, kidneys and muscle tissues. Aspartate aminotransferase is concentrated to a greater extent in the heart muscle, as well as in the liver, neurons of the brain, and skeletal muscles.

When there is a destructive change in the listed organs, enzymes are released and enter the systemic bloodstream in large quantities. When the enzyme AST or ALT in the blood is elevated, this means a violation of the integrity of organ cells, hence the development of pathological processes.

ALT and AST are closely correlated. A healthy enzyme ratio, otherwise known as the De Ritis ratio, ranges from 0.91 to 1.75. A low coefficient (below one) indicates the presence of liver pathologies. Exceeding the indicator by 2 times indicates destruction of the myocardium.

The concentration of ALT is identified within the framework of blood biochemistry. The enzyme is a marker of the organic state of hepatocytes and liver performance. According to its quantitative content, signs of liver diseases are determined at the preclinical stage, that is, before the appearance of characteristic symptoms of discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (jaundice).

An increase in the levels of the main enzyme of hepatocytes allows the doctor to assume the presence of:

  • hepatitis of various etiologies;
  • cancer processes in the liver;
  • cirrhosis (all types);
  • steatosis (fatty liver);
  • fatty hepatosis;
  • cholestasis (impaired synthesis and outflow of bile);
  • progressive muscular dystrophy;
  • toxic liver damage (drug, alcohol, etc.);
  • pancreatic diseases;
  • cardiac dysfunction.

First of all, pathologies associated with cytolysis (destruction of hepatocytes) come under suspicion. Unsatisfactory results of ALT (ALT) in biochemical analysis require additional verification by laboratory and instrumental methods. Based on blood counts alone, pathology is suspected, but not definitively diagnosed.

Blood biochemistry study parameters

Signs of increasing values

– a method of laboratory study of biofluids in order to identify functional disorders in organs and systems of the body. The study is assigned:

  • according to symptomatic complaints of the patient (sustained pain of any localization, digestive disorders, cardiac and respiratory functions, malfunctions of the nervous, endocrine, hepatobiliary system and renal apparatus);
  • as part of medical examination;
  • for preventive purposes;
  • upon contact with patients infected with viral hepatitis;
  • to control the therapy of diagnosed diseases.

During the perinatal period, women donate blood for biochemistry several times, which allows timely diagnosis of possible disorders in the body of the expectant mother that negatively affect the development of the child. Particular attention is paid to ALT indicators in a blood test when the patient exhibits symptoms of liver pathologies:

  • nausea and heaviness in the epigastric region;
  • alternating diarrhea and constipation (constipation);
  • loss of interest in food (loss of appetite);
  • yellow coating on the tongue and bitterness in the mouth;
  • subfebrile (37–38°C) body temperature;
  • skin itching (especially in the face);
  • change in the shade of excrement to light yellow, dark color of urine;
  • pain in the hypochondrium on the right;
  • yellowish tint to the whites of the eyes
  • chronic flatulence;
  • telangiectasia (spider veins) and hematomas of non-traumatic origin;
  • swelling.

For diagnosed liver diseases, an analysis for the content of AST and ALT in the blood can be prescribed separately to monitor the dynamics of treatment.

Rules for preparing and submitting analysis

To obtain objective results, a biochemistry analysis should be done after simple preliminary preparation. The patient must comply with the following conditions:

  • for 5–7 days, avoid drinking alcohol-containing drinks, because toxic metabolites of ethanol disrupt the synthesis of proteins and enzymes in the liver.
  • Eliminate fatty foods and fried foods from your diet in 2–3 days so as not to create additional stress on the liver and pancreas;
  • temporarily stop using medications;
  • fast before the procedure for at least 8–12 hours.

Why do you need to take the test on an empty stomach? This is due to the fact that any food changes the composition of the blood, and fats make the plasma cloudy. Test results performed on a full stomach will be inaccurate.

ALT reference values

Standard ALT values ​​are classified by gender (men and women) and by age category of the patient. In children, from birth to 6 months, normal levels increase, then change depending on age, and become stable after adulthood.

Reference! The measurement value for alanine aminotransferase is U/L. The coefficient for conversion to the SI system (mmol/l) is 5.6.

The upper limit of children's enzyme levels in the blood should not exceed the following values ​​(in U/l):

Alanine aminotransferase reference values ​​for adults:

When assessing ALT indicators, the obtained AST values ​​are necessarily taken into account. Analysis results are deciphered within 24 hours.

Reasons for deviation from the norm

The enzyme value may deviate from the standard values ​​either upward or downward. Both options are unsatisfactory and indicate intense cell destruction. A decreased level of ALT is recorded much less frequently than an increase in the concentration of the enzyme in the blood.

There are two main reasons for the decline in indicators:

  • extensive necrosis of hepatocytes as a consequence of advanced chronic liver diseases;
  • long-term deficiency in the body of pyridoxine (vitamin B 6).

Vitamin B 6 takes an active part in the production of ALT and AST. With its chronic deficiency, enzymes are synthesized in insufficient quantities. Hyperfermentemia (increased ALT levels) is classified into four degrees:

  • light – increase in indicators by 3–5 times;
  • moderate – 5–6 times;
  • average – more than 6 times;
  • high - more than 10 times.

The causes of increased ALT are associated with acute or chronic pathologies of the liver and heart. Myocardial infarction (necrosis of an area of ​​the heart muscle) is presumably diagnosed when the ALT level exceeds the standards by 5 or more times. At the same time, the Ritis coefficient also increases. Acute inflammation of the pancreas results in an increase in enzyme levels by at least 3 times, dystrophy of the muscular system – by 7–8 times.

In viral hepatitis, an increased value of alanine aminotransferase is observed, 20–50 times. There are three main types of viral disease, with two additional ones:

  • Botkin's disease or hepatitis A;
  • serum (hepatitis B);
  • post-transfusion or hepatitis C;
  • type D and E (diseases associated with the main types).

With toxic (alcoholic) hepatitis, ALT levels can be increased a hundred times. A high level of enzyme in biochemistry results, especially in the absence of pronounced symptoms, is a reason for additional examination. The patient needs to donate blood for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the hepatitis virus.

With incurable cirrhotic liver damage (cirrhosis), the ALT content in the blood can be increased from 225 U/L to 2250 U/L. Results depend on the stage and etiology of the disease. Cirrhosis may have the following etiology:

  • viral – formed as a complication of hepatitis A, B, C;
  • pharmacological or medicinal – develops with prolonged incorrect use of medications;
  • toxic (alcoholic) – occurs as a consequence of chronic alcoholism;
  • metabolic-nutritive – formed against the background of chronic pathologies of the endocrine system; cryptogenic (with an unknown nature of origin);
  • biliary (primary and secondary) – is a complication of gallbladder diseases;
  • autoimmune, the cause of development is a malfunction of the body’s immune system.

The highest ALT level is recorded in viral and alcoholic types of cirrhosis. If there is a suspicion of cirrhotic changes in the liver tissue, the patient urgently needs to undergo an ultrasound of the peritoneal organs.

Other possible causes of elevated enzyme levels include:

  • Pancreatic necrosis, otherwise the death of pancreatic cells, as a complication of advanced pancreatitis.
  • Cholecystopancreatitis and chronic inflammation of the pancreas. During latent periods of the disease, the level of alanine aminotransferase is slightly increased. A sharp increase in the enzyme in the blood means an exacerbation of the disease.
  • Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Pathology is diagnosed by comparing ALT and AST levels and calculating the Ritis coefficient.
  • Acute and chronic liver diseases (steatosis, steatohepatitis, hepatosis).
  • Cancerous degeneration of hepatocytes (more often occurs as a complication of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis).
  • Alcohol, drug or other liver intoxication.
  • Chemotherapy course of treatment.
  • Heart attack and pre-infarction condition.
  • Infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis).

If the suspected diagnosis is not confirmed during further examination, false results may mean non-compliance with the preparation conditions (drinking alcohol, eating fatty foods), as well as a state of neuropsychological tension or physical exhaustion at the time of donating blood.

To reduce a high ALT level in the blood, first of all, it is necessary to begin treatment of the underlying disease that affected the test results. Since in most cases, the increased concentration of ALT is due to the development of liver pathologies, drugs of the hepatoprotective group are prescribed:

  • Essential phospholipids (complex compounds of alcohols, high molecular weight acids and lipids). Stimulate the regeneration of hepatocytes, stabilize metabolic processes, maintain the balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates (Essliver, Phosphonciale, Essentiale Forte N, Phosphogliv, etc.).
  • Hepatoprotectors-lipotropics. Inhibit or stop fatty infiltration of the liver (Heptral, Betargin, Hepa-Merz).
  • Plant hepatoprotectors. Promotes the restoration of liver cells, treatment requires long-term use. The tablets contain natural extracts of medicinal herbs (Liv-52, Silimar, Karsil, Bonjigar, etc.).

Additional therapy is carried out with drugs based on ursodeoxycholic acid (Ursosan, Urdoxa, Ursodez) and lipoic acid, which help neutralize toxins and breakdown products of alcohol. You can lower ALT with diet therapy. A patient with impaired functional abilities of the liver and pancreas is prescribed the “Table No. 5” diet.


A brief table of permitted and prohibited foods for increased ALT in the blood

Important! If ALT levels are too high, any alcoholic drinks are completely excluded from the menu!

Results

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an endogenous enzyme that accelerates the chemical reaction of the amino acid alanine. The main part of ALT is contained in the liver, the rest is localized in the pancreas, myocardium and muscles. In a healthy man, the amount of enzyme in the blood is no more than 45 U/l, in a woman – 34 U/l.

If the levels are significantly elevated, it means that the tissues and cells are pathologically altered and have serious damage, through which alanine aminotransferase enters the bloodstream. ALT levels are determined as part of a biochemical blood test.

In most cases, with an increased enzyme value, liver diseases (hepatitis, hepatosis, cirrhosis, etc.), chronic or acute pancreatitis, and cardiac dysfunction (myocarditis, heart attack) are diagnosed. The diagnosis must be confirmed by a detailed examination, including a number of laboratory tests and hardware diagnostic procedures.

What do blood tests for ALAT and AST show? Your doctor will tell you about this. ALAT and ASAT are 2 enzymes that participate in biochemical reactions.
The abbreviation stands for as follows: ALAT (ALT) - alanine aminotransferase or simply aminotransferase, ASAT (AST) - aspartate aminotransferase or simply aspartate.

The essence of the question

These enzymes transport amino acids from one molecule to another. Amino acids play a major role in the construction of proteins. ALAT contains the amino acid alanine (hence the name ALAT), and ASAT contains asparagine and the enzyme pyridoxine (vitamin B 6). There is a list of organs in which these enzymes are synthesized, in descending order, i.e. the organ with the most enzyme will be in first place on the list.

ALAT is present in:

  • liver,
  • kidneys,
  • heart,
  • in skeletal muscles.

ACAT is present in:

  • heart,
  • liver,
  • brain cells,
  • muscle tissue of skeletal muscles.

There are specially established numbers (limit) by which the doctor sees the condition of the listed organs. If cell destruction occurs, then their integrity is compromised, and enzymes enter the blood. Depending on which enzyme is more present in the blood test, a conclusion can be drawn about the condition of the corresponding organ.

Norms of indicators

Norm number of units per 1 liter of blood:

  • ALT - in men up to 40 units/l, and in women up to 32 units/l;
  • AST - in men from 15 - 31 units/l, and in women from 20 - 40 units/l.

What is a biochemical blood test? When a study is carried out in laboratory conditions, this is a biochemical analysis. It is a guideline for the attending physician, since it shows a complete picture of the work of all vital organs:

  • liver,
  • pancreas,
  • kidney,
  • gallbladder, etc.

This analysis considers the following indicators:

  • blood glucose levels;
  • bilirubin;
  • ASAT and ALAT;
  • gamma - GT;
  • alkaline phosphatase;
  • cholesterol;
  • LDL (bad fats);
  • triglycerides;
  • total protein;
  • albumen;
  • potassium;
  • sodium;
  • chlorine;
  • createnine;
  • urea and uric acid;
  • C-reactive protein (CRP);
  • iron.

If there is a deviation from the norm of one or another indicator, it becomes clear to the doctor what exactly needs to be regulated or treated.

Preparing to submit material for research

If the patient is taking any medications, then most likely, shortly before the test, the doctor will stop the drug that can change the accuracy of the blood test. Donate blood in the morning on an empty stomach (last meal 12 hours before).

To prepare for the analysis you need:

  1. 1. Avoid alcohol the day before donating blood.
  2. 2. Give up cigarettes within an hour.
  3. 3. Chewing gum should also not be chewed.
  4. 4. You can’t drink any liquids either.

For analysis, blood is taken from a vein. The answer will be in one day. Deciphering the analysis without medical knowledge is impossible, so consultation with a doctor is necessary.

In most cases, elevated ALAT levels are associated with liver pathology. This is a sign that there is a disease of this organ. It should be noted that in a biochemical blood test, the level of this enzyme is higher than normal 1 or 4 weeks before the onset of symptoms of the disease. And in the acute period of the disease, the indicators increase almost 10 times.

In 1 minute, the liver can cleanse or neutralize up to a million molecules of toxic substances, and in about an hour - up to 100 liters of blood. Sometimes for some reason the cells are damaged, the contents of the cells come out and enter the blood. If such indicators are high in a biochemical blood test, this will mean that cell destruction is occurring in the body.

Why does the ALAT enzyme increase in the blood?

There can be many reasons for increasing the amount of ALAT enzyme:

  • excess fat deposited in liver cells;
  • hepatitis, jaundice;
  • cirrhosis;
  • taking medications, for example Paracetamol or antibiotics;
  • chemical poisoning;
  • tumor, cancer or metastases;
  • myocardial infarction, heart surgery;
  • muscle injuries;
  • alcohol addiction.

If the body does not have enough vitamin B6, the level of this enzyme in the blood will decrease.
The liver is a unique organ that can recover in 3 months if treated.

ACAT, like the previous enzyme, transports (transfers) amino acids from molecule to molecule. It contains vitamin B6. As a result of the work of enzymes, glucogens are formed (sugars, but not from carbohydrates), which support the body during exercise, fasting, when energy is needed, i.e. this enzyme is a participant in energy exchange.

The difference between these two enzymes is that an increased level of ASAT in the blood warns primarily of heart disease, more precisely, of myocardial infarction. The largest share of the ACAT enzyme is found in muscle tissue - the myocardium and muscles. In other organs their concentration is lower.

When taking the test, a person’s age and gender matter. Since muscles play a leading role in this analysis, men have more muscle mass than women, and accordingly, the indicators will be high. In children, the rates will be higher due to the active development of the muscular skeleton.

Indicators will be changeable in pregnant women. Increased levels of the hormone estrogen affect the liver, so increases in ALT and AST in pregnant women are considered normal. But if high levels are accompanied by toxicosis, then urgent treatment is required, because it can be dangerous for both the baby and the mother. If a pregnant woman does not eat properly, she may become deficient in vitamin B6, and then a blood test will show a decrease in AST and ALT levels.

Why does the ASAT level deviate from the norm?

The reasons for the increase and decrease in AST levels are almost the same as with ALT, only if with ALAT the condition of the liver is put in the foreground, then in the case of AST - the heart and muscles.

Some of the reasons:

  1. 1. Heart - myocardial infarction, coronary insufficiency, heart surgery, angina pectoris, tachycardia, rheumatic carditis, arterial blood clots.
  2. 2. Liver.
  3. 3. Gallbladder.
  4. 4. Pancreas.

After receiving laboratory tests, doctors are left to determine the disease process of the organ in which the disturbances occurred. What is needed to normalize the level of ALT and AST enzymes:

  1. 1. Do not drink alcohol, even in small doses.
  2. 2. Review medications and, if necessary, change medications.
  3. 3. Cure inflammatory processes in the body.
  4. 4. Take a course of liver or heart treatment.
  5. 5. Change your lifestyle, in particular, review your diet. Avoid unhealthy fats and include healthy foods in your diet.

All treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor in order to properly normalize enzyme levels. Usually, if AST or ALT is abnormal, a hepatologist or cardiologist is consulted.

Medicines that increase the level of these enzymes:

  • Heparin;
  • antibiotics;
  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs);
  • antifungal;
  • anticonvulsants;
  • lowering blood sugar;
  • fluoroquinolones - antimicrobial drugs;
  • nitrofurans - antibacterial drugs;
  • stanina - cholesterol-lowering drugs.

If the body lacks vitamin B6, then enzyme activity will be reduced. In this case, it is useful to eat foods rich in this vitamin:

  1. 1. Sprouted grains, any.
  2. 2. Walnuts.
  3. 3. Legumes, soybeans, cereals.
  4. 4. Vegetables - carrots, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes.
  5. 5. Strawberries, lemon, oranges, cherries.
  6. 6. Meat and dairy products, eggs, fish.

Normalizing enzyme levels is not difficult, you just need to take the appropriate test and follow the doctor's instructions.