What is Serum ALT Level?
Serum ALT level refers to the amount of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme present in your blood. ALT is primarily found in the liver, but also exists in smaller amounts in the kidneys, heart, and muscle cells. A blood test measures this level.
- What is ALT? ALT is an enzyme crucial for liver function. It helps break down proteins.
- What does an ALT test show? An elevated ALT level in your blood usually signals liver cell damage or injury. This damage can stem from various causes including viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and certain medications.
- Interpreting Results: The normal ALT range varies depending on the laboratory, but generally, higher levels indicate liver problems. However, a slightly elevated level doesn't automatically mean serious liver disease; further investigation may be needed. Even with relatively low serum ALT levels, liver-related mortality can be a concern, as noted in studies like the one linked here. In contrast, a normal ALT level doesn't entirely rule out liver disease.
Common Causes of Elevated ALT Levels:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A prevalent condition linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- Alcoholic liver disease: Caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
- Viral hepatitis: Liver inflammation triggered by viral infections.
- Medications: Some drugs can cause liver damage as a side effect.
- Other Factors: Autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, and certain toxins can also elevate ALT levels.
Elevated serum GPT (another name for ALT) levels are also independently associated with Type 2 Diabetes, as shown by research on rural Chinese populations here.
Note: An increase in ALT serum levels definitely points to liver cell injury, but the underlying cause requires further evaluation through additional tests and medical assessment. The MedlinePlus resource on ALT blood tests https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/alt-blood-test/ offers more information. Cleveland Clinic's page https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22028-alanine-transaminase-alt provides further details on the procedure.
