Alanine aminotransferase is an important indicator of liver function tests and is an aminotransferase enzyme. Aminotransferases are referred to as aminotransferases and are mainly used in liver function tests as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
Both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are non-specific intracellular functional enzymes with low serum levels in normal times, but when liver cells are damaged, the enzymatic activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) will increase. Their elevation is mainly common in: 1. Acute viral hepatitis: both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are significantly elevated, but the elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) will be more pronounced. Transaminases peak 1-2 weeks after hepatitis virus infection and gradually decline during weeks 3-5. During the recovery period of acute hepatitis, if the activity of transaminases does not decrease to normal or rises again, etc., it indicates that acute viral hepatitis turns chronic. However, the degree of transaminase elevation is not related to the severity of liver damage.
2, chronic viral hepatitis: transaminases will be mildly elevated (100U-200U) or normal.
3.Alcoholic liver disease, drug-related hepatitis, fatty liver, liver cancer and other non-viral liver diseases: transaminases are mildly elevated or normal.
4.Liver cirrhosis: transaminase activity depends on the degree of progressive necrosis.
5.Intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis: transaminase activity is usually normal or mildly elevated.
6.Other diseases: such as skeletal muscle disease, pulmonary infarction, renal infarction, etc., transaminases are mildly elevated (50-200 U).
When alanine aminotransferase is elevated, further tests are usually needed to clarify the cause and treat it aggressively.