NAME ALT/SGPT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
NORMAL RANGE 7-56 U/L
DEFINITION This is an enzyme made in liver cells. If liver cells are
damaged or die, ALT leaks out into the bloodstream.
EXPLANATION
OF TEST
RESULT This is the most important test to follow in a person with
liver disease. A high ALT may mean a high degree of liver cell damage.
However, ALT levels can also vary, and do not always reflect the
degree of liver cell damage. A liver biopsy may give the most accurate
information about the extent of liver damage. The ALT enzyme is a more
accurate marker of liver damage than the AST enzyme. One goal of
treatment for hepatitis C is a normal ALT level.