What does your ALT test report say? (Alanine Aminotransferase - ALT)

Have you ever seen a blood test report with three letters and a number on it? The doctor may have told you that the value is higher than the normal range. It's normal to feel a little nervous and scared at a time like this. "Oh, what is this ALT? Is it a serious illness if it's high?" You may think. But don't worry. Today, let's talk very simply and clearly about what this ALT is and what this test actually says about our body.

Simply put, what is this ALT Test?

The ALT test is a very simple blood test that checks for any damage to your liver . Although we call it ALT by its short name, its full name is Alanine Aminotransferase . In the past, it was also called SGPT (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase) . You may have seen that in your old reports.

So this ALT is an enzyme in our body. To be precise, this enzyme is mostly found inside our liver cells. A very small amount is also found in places like the kidneys and muscles. Normally, ALT is present in our blood at very low levels.

Think of the liver as a basket with lots of eggs. As long as the eggs are safe, there's no problem. But if the basket is damaged or shaken, some of the eggs will break and come out, right? That's how it is. When liver cells are damaged due to a disease, medication, accident, or other reason, the ALT enzyme inside those cells is released into the blood. That's when a blood test shows an increase in ALT levels.

Why is the liver so important to our body?

The liver is not only one of the largest organs in our body, but it is also like our body's "main factory." The work it does is no small feat.

• Bile production: Bile, which helps digest the fatty foods we eat, is produced by the liver.
• Blood purification: The liver filters out unwanted waste and toxins (like alcohol) from our blood, much like a water filter.
• Helping blood clot: The liver produces proteins needed to stop bleeding when there is an injury.
• Storing nutrients: Things like vitamins and minerals are stored and kept until the body needs them.
• Sugar level control: Extra sugar in the blood is stored and converted back into energy when needed.

So, because it does so many important things, it is very important to take care of the health of the liver.

Under what circumstances would a doctor tell you to do this test?

There are several reasons why your doctor may order an ALT test. It could be because you have symptoms related to liver disease, or it could be because you are at risk for liver damage.

Sometimes, for no particular reason, the ALT test may be done as part of your annual medical checkup. It is also used to see how well treatment is working if you already have liver disease.

Is there any preparation before the test?

Usually, no special preparation is needed if the ALT test is done alone. However, this test is often done in conjunction with other liver tests (liver panel). Some of these tests may require you to fast for a few hours. Therefore, ask your doctor if you should avoid eating or drinking before the test.

Also, be sure to tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or other supplements you are taking. Some medications can affect the results of this test. Also, exercising heavily the day before the test can temporarily increase ALT levels. So it's a good idea to inform your doctor about that as well.

When the report comes, what does it mean?

You will receive the test results within a few hours or a few days. The report will list your ALT level and its normal range .

High ALT levels

An elevated ALT level indicates some kind of inflammation or damage to the liver cells. However, it alone does not mean that you have serious liver disease.

There can be many reasons for elevated ALT levels:

• Fatty liver disease: This is a condition that is now commonly seen in society.
• Viral infections such as Hepatitis A, B, and C: These directly affect the liver.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol is a poison to the liver.
• Side effects of certain medications: Some painkillers, cholesterol-lowering medications, and antibiotics can cause ALT levels to rise.
• Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of the liver.
• Decreased blood supply to the liver.
• Hemochromatosis: Excessive iron in the body.
• Other viral infections, such as mononucleosis (mono).

Low ALT levels

This is not seen very often. Low ALT levels are usually not a cause for concern. However, very rarely, they can be associated with conditions such as vitamin B6 deficiency or chronic kidney disease. If your levels are low, your doctor will likely order some more tests.

What other tests are done to get a complete picture of liver health?

The ALT test is just one piece of the puzzle. To see the whole picture, your doctor will need a few more pieces. That's why the ALT test is often done as part of a series of tests called "Liver Function Tests" (LFTs) .

Another important enzyme in this series of tests is AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) . Like ALT, this enzyme is also present in the blood when liver cells are damaged. However, AST is also present in higher levels than ALT in areas such as the heart and muscles.

Your doctor will compare your AST and ALT levels (AST/ALT ratio) . This ratio gives your doctor an important clue to the nature of the liver damage and its cause.

In addition, the LFT test series may also include the following:

• Bilirubin
• Albumin
• Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
• Total protein
• Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)

By combining the information from all of these tests, your doctor can come to an accurate conclusion about the health of your liver.

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