Liver function tests, I think we are not unfamiliar with, are not only a routine medical examination, but also a test that doctors often advise their patients. The most important indicator in liver function tests is transaminase, which is involved in the synthesis and decomposition of amino acids and is an essential “catalyst” in the body’s metabolic process. It is also an indicator of the health of the liver, and any cause of liver damage can lead to elevated serum transaminases. But does an elevated transaminase mean that hepatitis is present?
There are two main types of aminotransferases in our common liver function tests. They are alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and menthyltransferase (AST).
1, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which is commonly known as glutamate aminotransferase. 1% of hepatocyte necrosis can increase ALT by a factor of 1. Any cause of liver damage can cause its elevation.
AST is not only found in the liver, but also in the heart muscle, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, brain and other tissues. So an abnormal AST may also be caused by damage to these tissues. Usually, if liver cell damage is present, an elevated AST is usually accompanied by an elevated ALT.
Since this indicator of transaminases is so important, what do we need to do to get a true indicator of transaminases? First of all, we need to fast before the test, eat as light as possible the night before, don’t drink alcohol, and avoid strenuous exercise before the test to ensure the accuracy of our test results. Again, we need to understand that the test equipment used by each hospital is different, the reference range will be different, whether the abnormalities should be subject to the prevailing laboratory test.
After the test, if the report shows elevated aminotransferases, many people think that there is something wrong with the liver. There are many reasons for elevated aminotransferases, not only liver diseases, but also some non-liver diseases and non-disease factors can lead to elevated aminotransferase indicators, so let’s see what they include.
1.Liver diseases.
Including various causes of hepatitis (such as: viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, drug-related hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis), cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver abscess, etc. Among them.
A More than 10 times the upper limit of normal: Commonly seen in acute liver damage caused by viral hepatitis, drug-related hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, etc.
B. No more than 8 times the upper limit of normal: common in post-hepatic jaundice, intrahepatic cholestasis, etc.
C, no more than 5 times the upper limit of normal: common in alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, etc.
D. In chronic hepatitis, the level of transaminases varies.
E, a few patients with autoimmune hepatitis have significantly elevated transaminases, and when this occurs, it often suggests that the patient has a poor prognosis.
F.In the case of liver cancer and liver abscess, the change of transaminases is determined by the involvement of the liver already the original state of the liver.
2. Non-hepatic diseases, including the following categories.
Biliary tract diseases: including cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and other acute attacks when transaminases may be elevated. Other diseases such as bile duct roundworm, gallbladder and bile duct tumor, cancer around the jugular abdomen, congenital bile duct dilatation, acute and chronic pancreatitis may also show elevated transaminases.
Heart diseases: such as myocardial infarction, myocarditis, acute heart failure, cardiac surgery or after intubation may show elevated transaminases Other diseases: such as shock, dermatomyositis, nephritis, influenza, etc. may cause elevated transaminases.
3.Non-disease factors.
Pregnancy: the growth of the fetus will put a burden on the liver of pregnant women, which will lead to high transaminases Strenuous exercise: strenuous physical activities such as long distance running or weight bearing can cause elevated transaminases.
Overexertion and staying up late can also lead to elevated transaminases.
Improper diet: Eating greasy, spicy and irritating food or drinking alcohol before the examination can cause elevated transaminases.
Drug abuse: such as antipyretics, sleeping pills, birth control pills, and certain Chinese herbal ingredients such as he shou wu can cause elevated transaminases.
Elevated aminotransferases often indicate liver damage, but the degree of elevation can have different meanings in the opinion of our doctors. We hope that you will not blindly diagnose yourself and label yourself with hepatitis without permission. A specific diagnosis needs to be made by a doctor in conjunction with other indicators.