Why in the blood ALT and AST are increased, what does it mean?

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The abbreviation ALT stands for the blood indicator of alanine aminotransferase enzymes, AsAT - asparagine aminotransferase. The indicators of AST and ALT are included in the biochemical blood test.

They were discovered in medicine relatively recently. The blood test for AST and ALT is carried out jointly and, accordingly, their norm should be the same, and fully dependent on each other.

Such an indicator of tests, like increasing ALT and AST in the blood 2 and more times, should make you think about the occurrence of some diseases. First you need to understand what ALT and AST are. What is the norm of these compounds in the blood and what should be done if at least one indicator is elevated?

The increase in ALT and AST is higher than the

norm In adults, the ALT and AST content in different organs is not the same, so increasing one of these enzymes may indicate a disease of a specific organ.

• ALT( ALAT, alanine aminotransferase) is an enzyme that is found mainly in the cells of the liver, kidneys, muscles, heart( myocardium - cardiac muscle) and pancreas. When they are damaged, a large amount of ALT comes out of the destroyed cells, which leads to an increase in its level in the blood.
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• AST( ASAT, aspartate aminotransferase) is an enzyme that is also found in the heart cells( in the myocardium), the liver, muscles, nerve tissues, and to a lesser extent in the lungs, kidneys, pancreas. Damage to these organs leads to an increase in the level of AST in the blood.

Basically, the norm of ALT and AST in the blood completely depends on the work of the most important parenchymal organ - the liver, which performs such functions as:

1. Synthesis of protein.
2. Production of biochemical substances necessary for an organism.
3. Detoxification - elimination of toxic substances and poisons from the body.
4. Storage of glycogen - a polysaccharide, which is necessary for the full vital activity of the body.
5. Regulation of biochemical reactions of synthesis and decomposition of most microparticles.

Normally, the blood levels of ALT and AST depend on the sex. In an adult woman, the level of ALT and AST does not exceed 31 U / l. In men, normal ALT does not exceed 45 U / l, and AST 47 U / l. Depending on the age of the child, the level of ALT and AST changes, while the ALT content should not be above 50 U / L, AST - 140 U / L( from birth to 5 days) and not more than 55 U / L for children under 9 years.

Depending on the equipment used for the study, it is possible to vary the norms and reference values ​​of the enzyme level. An increase in the rate of renewal of enzymes, damage to cells leads to an increase in the level of transaminases in the blood.

Reasons for increasing ALT and AST

Why do adults have ALT and AST increased, what does it mean? The most likely cause of increased liver enzymes in the blood are:

1. Hepatitis and other liver diseases( cirrhosis of the liver, fatty hepatosis - replacement of liver cells with fat cells, liver cancer, etc.).
2. Increase in ALT and AST as a consequence of diseases of other organs( autoimmune thyroiditis, mononucleosis).
3. Myocardial infarction is the necrosis( death) of a site of the heart muscle, as a result of which ALT and AST are secreted into the blood.
4. Diffuse liver lesions that can be caused by alcohol, drugs and / or the effects of the virus.
5. Extensive injuries with muscle damage, as well as burns, are the cause of increased ALT in the blood.
6. Acute and chronic pancreatitis.
7. Metastases or neoplasms in the liver.
8. Reaction to medicines.
9. Admission of anabolic steroids.

AST and ALT are important indicators of the state of various organs. The increase in these enzymes indicates damage to organs such as the liver, heart, muscles, pancreas, etc. Thus, the decrease in their level in the blood occurs independently when the underlying disease is eliminated.

Prevention of

To ensure that the norm of the indicators does not exceed the allowed limits, it is recommended to avoid long-term medications.

If this is not possible due to a chronic illness, then it is better to regularly take the assay for ASAT so that it is not raised or in time to prevent a serious increase. Periodically, you need to visit a gastroenterologist and a hepatologist who will be able to identify a possible disease and prescribe a treatment.

What to do if ALT and AST are increased

In order to quickly and objectively understand the true reason for the increase in the levels of ALT and AST activity, it is necessary to additionally submit biochemical analyzes.

First of all, it is expedient to determine the levels of total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and GGTP( gamma-glutamyltransferase) and assess the degree of preservation of the basic functions of the liver. To exclude the viral nature of liver damage( acute viral hepatitis), which is also accompanied by an increase in ALT and AST in the blood, it will be necessary to donate blood to specific antigens of viral hepatitis and specific antibodies to these antigens.

In some cases, the study of blood serum by PCR for the presence of DNA of HBV and HCV RNA is indicated.