Although high ALT activities exist in the liver, minor activity can also be detected in the kidneys, heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas, spleen, and lungs. Elevated serum ALT is found in hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice, carcinoma of the liver, and chronic alcohol abuse. ALT is only slightly elevated in patients who have an uncomplicated myocardial infarction1. Although both serum aspartate aminotransferase AST) and ALT become elevated whenever disease processes affect liver cell integrity, ALT is the more liver-specific enzyme. Moreover, elevations of ALT persist longer than elevations of AST activity.
Although higher activities exist in the liver, minor activity can also be detected in the kidneys, heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas, spleen, and lungs. Elevated serum ALT is found in hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice, carcinoma of the liver, and chronic alcohol abuse. ALT is only slightly elevated in patients who have an uncomplicated myocardial infarction1. Although both serum aspartate aminotransferase AST) and ALT become elevated whenever disease processes affect liver cell integrity, ALT is the more liver-specific enzyme. Moreover, elevations of ALT persist longer than elevations of AST activity.
Although higher activities exist in the liver, minor activity can also be detected in the kidneys, heart, skeletal muscle, pancreas, spleen, and lungs. Elevated serum ALT is found in hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice, carcinoma of the liver, and chronic alcohol abuse. ALT is only slightly elevated in patients who have an uncomplicated myocardial infarction1. Although both serum aspartate aminotransferase AST) and ALT become elevated whenever disease processes affect liver cell integrity, ALT is the more liver-specific enzyme. Moreover, elevations of ALT persist longer than elevations of AST activity.
