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Alanine Aminotransferase

Alanine Aminotransferase

Synonyms - Specimen - Reference Value - Method - Description - Indication - Results 

Synonyms           : Serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase , (SGPT ) , ALT 
Specimen            : Serum or Plasma 
Reference Value  : 10 - 40 U / L 
Method                : Spectrophotometer 

Description 

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT ) ,formerly known as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) , is an enzyme produced by the liver . It acts as a catalyst in the reversible transfer of amino group between alanine and alfa- ketoglutarate . 
The highest concentration of ALT is found in the liver cells , moderate amounts are found in kidney cells , and smaller amounts are  found in heart and skeletal muscle. 

ALT is located in cytoplasm . When liver damaged occurs , Serum level of ALT rise to 50 times normal , making this a useful test in evaluating liver injury .Serum half-life is  2- 5 days . Following acute hepatic injury .Serum enzyme activity peaks at about 48 hours and then beings to decrease. 
ALT is also used to screen donating blood before transfusion because the enzyme may be elevated in absence of detectable serologic markers of hepatitis . 

Indications 

- Compare serially with aspartate aminotransferase (AST ) levels to track the course of liver disease . 

- Monitor liver damage resulting from hepatotoxic drugs.

- Monitor response to treatments of liver disease , with tissue repair indicated by gradually declining levels . 

- In blood banks , use as a routine screen for hepatitis in donor blood samples . Samples are rejected if levels are greater than 1.5 times the upper limits of normal . 

Result 

 Increased in Both primary and secondary hepatic disease can cause increased ALT levels 

- Hepatitis 
-Fatty liver 
- Cirrhosis 
- Hepatic carcinoma 
- Biliary tract obstruction ( due to the toxic effects of retained bile salts on hepatocytes ) . 
- Acute pancreatitis 
- Muscle injury from intramuscular injection , trauma , infection , and seizures ( recent) 
- Muscular dystrophy 
- Myocardial infraction 
- Myositis 
-Shock (sever ) 
- Drugs : Anticonvulsants ( induce ALT synthesis ) 

Decreased in

- Pyridoxine ( vitamin B6 ) deficiency  


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