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What Causes Elevated ALT Levels?

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Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015
Question: Is an alt reading of 87 and a ast reading of 66 a severe problem?
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
mild to moderate increase

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

The normal range of AST is 5 to 40 and the normal range of ALT is 7 to 56 though these ranges can vary slightly from one lab to the next.

Your values though high are not highly alarming.

The most common reason for increase in these levels is fatty liver. This is the build up of fat in the liver.

There are 2 types, alcoholic fatty liver ( due to excess alcohol intake ) and non alcoholic fatty liver (due to diet, inactivity, associated with diabetes, high cholesterol, increased weight).

Fatty liver can go on to liver failure if treatment is not started.

If related to alcohol then it needs to be stopped.

If related to non alcoholic fatty liver then treatment involves- statin, diet changes to healthy diet, activity

The ultrasound would be able to check to see cause.

Other causes of increased AST, ALT are- infection (hepatitis), trauma, side effect of medication, mass in liver.

Summary: (1)mild to moderate increase that needs monitoring
(2)treatment depends on cause

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Causes Elevated ALT Levels?

Brief Answer: mild to moderate increase Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic The normal range of AST is 5 to 40 and the normal range of ALT is 7 to 56 though these ranges can vary slightly from one lab to the next. Your values though high are not highly alarming. The most common reason for increase in these levels is fatty liver. This is the build up of fat in the liver. There are 2 types, alcoholic fatty liver ( due to excess alcohol intake ) and non alcoholic fatty liver (due to diet, inactivity, associated with diabetes, high cholesterol, increased weight). Fatty liver can go on to liver failure if treatment is not started. If related to alcohol then it needs to be stopped. If related to non alcoholic fatty liver then treatment involves- statin, diet changes to healthy diet, activity The ultrasound would be able to check to see cause. Other causes of increased AST, ALT are- infection (hepatitis), trauma, side effect of medication, mass in liver. Summary: (1)mild to moderate increase that needs monitoring (2)treatment depends on cause I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions