Normal The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. Lead poisoning. Very strenuous exercise or severe injury to a muscle. Exposure to carbon tetrachloride. Decay of a large tumour necrosis. Many medicines, such as statins , antibiotics, chemotherapy, aspirin, opioids , and barbiturates. Growth spurts, especially in young children. Rapid growth can cause mildly elevated levels of ALT. What Affects the Test You may not be able to have the test, or the results may not be helpful, if: You take some natural health products , such as echinacea and valerian.
You recently had cardiac catheterization or surgery. This value can often help determine whether there is damage to the liver related to heavy alcohol use. The gamma glutamyl transferase GGT test is sometimes done along with other liver enzyme tests. In children with acute lymphocytic leukemia ALL , very high ALT levels may mean that the disease is likely to progress rapidly.
Many different conditions can raise ALT blood levels, so other testing is usually needed to interpret an abnormal ALT result. Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests , 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 6th ed. Louis: Saunders. Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. Symptoms of liver problems include:. These symptoms can indicate liver disease, injury, or another problem that may be affecting the liver.
Often, these levels are elevated before symptoms of liver damage occur, making the test useful for people at risk of liver damage. When a doctor can detect liver damage early, they may be better able to treat it and prevent further injury. Doctors routinely order liver panels to monitor diagnosed liver disease or injury.
The results of these tests can show how well the treatment plan is working. A person with a healthy liver will have an ALT level in the normal range. The normal range can vary from laboratory to laboratory. According to the Mayo Clinic , the normal range for adult males is 7—55 units per liter.
Females may have a lower upper limit normal than males. Age can also affect results. A person should speak with their doctor about what their results mean. A person should discuss their results with their doctor, who can say if the numbers returned are within a normal range. People with higher ALT levels often need additional tests to discover the underlying cause of the liver damage and treat it. ALT is one of these enzymes. It plays a crucial role in metabolism, the process that turns food into energy.
ALT is normally found inside liver cells. However, when your liver is damaged or inflamed, ALT can be released into your bloodstream. This causes serum ALT levels to rise. Many times an increase in ALT is the first sign of a problem and is elevated before other symptoms start to appear.
The ALT test is often part of an initial screening for liver disease. The ALT test is usually used to determine whether someone has liver injury or failure. Liver damage generally causes an increase in ALT levels. An ALT test is often done with other liver enzyme tests. Checking ALT levels along with levels of other liver enzymes can provide your doctor with more specific information about a liver problem. An ALT test may be part of a routine checkup or requested if someone has risk factors for liver disease, including:.
Some medications may affect the levels of ALT in your blood. Your doctor might tell you to avoid taking certain medications for a period of time before the test.
An ALT is a simple blood test with few risks. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Liver function tests are blood tests used to help diagnose and monitor liver disease or damage.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Diagnosing liver disease: Liver biopsy and liver function tests. American Liver Foundation. Accessed April 12, Laboratory tests of the liver and gallbladder. Merck Manual Professional Version. Friedman LS. Approach to the patient with abnormal liver biochemical and function tests.
Blood tests.
0コメント