What does the blood test signal if ALT and AST are elevated?

For a correct and timely diagnosis, it is often not enough to just examine the patient and collect an anamnesis. The leading role in the diagnosis of the disease is played by various types of research, including the determination of biochemical indicators of blood.

Elevated levels of transaminases. What do the results of the analysis say?

The determination of the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is indispensable in the study of the liver, heart, pancreas. Increase or, conversely, a decrease in the level of transaminase in the blood can indicate such serious diseases as myopathy, gout, various bone malignancies. With burns that occupy a large area, serious injuries increase the enzymes listed above.

ALT and AST are elevated, and significantly with liver diseases. But if the indices of thymol test are higher than normal, then it signals about liver damage with viral hepatitis.

Levels of enzymes ALT and AST are increased with myocardial infarction, myocarditis, heart failure. It should be noted that if the elevated level of AST transfer does not decrease from the moment of attack, this indicates the possibility of an unfavorable prognosis for the patient. It is believed that if the increase in the parameters of AST and ALT is less than 10 times, this may indicate a number of other diseases different from liver disease. An increase in their level more than 10 times suggests a liver disease - hepatitis (viral, toxic, ischemic or autoimmune), fatty hepatosis, liver cancer.

Rules for collecting blood chemistry analysis

To determine the level of AST and ALT, the blood test is taken strictly on an empty stomach. Dinner at the same time is allowed no later than 18 pm, in the previous blood sampling 8 hours should be excluded from eating, including any liquid. Often, the reception of blood for biochemistry in a polyclinic occurs in the morning, up to 10 hours. In hospitals, as a rule, around the clock.

About the fact that ALT and AST are increased, you can speak when exceeding the parameters of the biochemical blood test the following indicators:

• For ALT - 0.1-0.68 μmol / (ml * h);
• For AST - 0.1-0.45 μmol / (ml * h).

In the case of a decrease in the level of enzymes of transaminases, one can suspect a deficiency in the body of vitamin Pyridoxine (B6).

Also for the correct diagnosis use the Ritis index. Normally, this indicator should be equal to 1.3. With an increase in it, we can talk about the possibility of myocardial infarction, with a decrease - about viral hepatitis.

It should be noted that in the first trimester of pregnancy there may be a noncritical increase in the level of transaminase ALT. The analysis should be repeated one month after delivery. If the level is low - there is no cause for concern.

And yet, what to do?

First, it is necessary to exclude the use in the period preceding the analysis of certain medications provoking an increase in the level of transferases in the blood. Secondly, if the levels of ALT and AST are increased, do not delay the visit to the doctor. Remember that only a specialist can prescribe a treatment. Self-medication can lead to sad consequences.