What is alanine aminotransferase?

Alanine aminotransferase is also known as ALT, and aspartate aminotransferase is also known as AST. Transaminase is an important indicator that reflects liver function. At this time, some people may have a misunderstanding when going for a physical examination, thinking that high transaminase means they have hepatitis, but this is not the case.

Let us understand what alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase are.

Transaminase reflects the health of the liver. Transaminase is an essential "catalyst" in the human body's metabolic process and is mainly found in liver cells. When liver cells are damaged by inflammation, necrosis, poisoning, etc., transaminase will be released into the blood, causing an increase in serum transaminase levels.

Does high transaminase mean hepatitis? An increase in ALT simply means that the liver may be damaged. In addition to hepatitis, many other diseases can cause elevated transaminases. Common causes of elevated transaminases include:

1. Diseases of the liver itself, especially various types of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver abscess, liver tuberculosis, liver cancer, fatty liver, and Wilson's disease, can all cause varying degrees of elevated transaminase levels.

2. In addition to the liver, other organs and tissues in the body also contain this enzyme. Therefore, elevated blood transaminase levels can be seen in cases of myocarditis, pyelonephritis, lobar pneumonia, tuberculosis, type B encephalitis, polymyositis, acute sepsis, typhoid fever, meningitis, malaria, cholecystitis, leptospirosis, influenza, measles, schistosomiasis, crush syndrome, etc.

3. Because transaminase is excreted from the bile duct, if there is a disease of the bile duct, gallbladder or pancreas, or bile duct obstruction, the transaminase level may also increase.

4. Drug-induced or toxic liver damage, as well as drug allergy, can cause elevated transaminase levels, often accompanied by cholestatic jaundice and hepatocellular damage. For example, if you take drugs that can damage the liver when you are sick, such as erythromycin, tetracycline, sleeping pills, antipyretic analgesics,

Contraceptive pills, as well as Chinese medicines such as Pinellia, Areca, and Indigo. After these drugs are discontinued, transaminase levels return to normal rapidly.

5. Normal pregnancy, preeclampsia, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, etc. are also common causes of elevated transaminase.

6. For some people who do not seem to have any serious illness, they may have alcoholic liver disease due to long-term alcoholism, or fatty liver disease due to unreasonable diet, which may cause high transaminase levels.

If the transaminase level is elevated due to the above reasons, you should take a good rest and go to the hospital for an enzyme test after a period of time to ensure that the enzyme level returns to normal. Therefore, when you find that your transaminase level is high, you don’t need to be too nervous or worry too much about having a serious liver disease. However, you must pay attention to it and receive regular follow-up examinations and treatment in a timely manner.