What is ALT (Alanine-aminotransferase)?
ALT is an enzyme made by cells in the liver. Enzymes help the liver break down proteins so the body can absorb them more easily. 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 the liver is damaged or inflamed, ALT can be released into your bloodstream. This causes serum ALT levels to rise.
What is a normal ALT level?
The normal value for ALT (Alanine-aminotransferase) in blood is between 7 and 55 units per liter, but this value can vary depending on the hospital. This range can be affected by certain factors, including gender and age. It’s important to discuss your specific results with your doctor.
What do abnormal results mean?
An increased ALT level is usually a sign of liver disease. Liver disease is even more likely when the levels of substances checked by other liver blood tests have also increased.
An increased ALT level may be due to any of the following:
- Scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
- Death of liver tissue
- Swollen and inflamed liver (hepatitis)
- Too much iron in the body (hemochromatosis)
- Too much fat in the liver (fatty liver)
- Lack of blood flow to the liver (liver ischemia)
- Liver tumor or cancer
- Use of drugs that are toxic to the liver
- Mononucleosis (“mono”)
- Swollen and inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
Related Biomarkers:
AST (Aspartate-aminotransferase)
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