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What Do These Following AST And ALT Values Indicate?
Question: What does 408 AST and 208 ALT mean?
Brief Answer:
impaired liver function/ liver not working as it should
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
AST and ALT are two of the blood tests that take a look at the liver.
Other liver function tests are alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, GGT. Proteins can also give an idea of liver function.
The normal range for AST is 10 to 40 and ALT 7 to 56 though it can vary slightly from one lab to the next.
The increase in liver function is considered mild if it is 2 to 3 times above the upper limit but in your case, both of your values are above this.
This means that there is a moderate increase in these liver enzymes which means that there may be impaired liver function (liver may not be working well).
You should consider the other tests mentioned (alkaline phosphatase, GGT, bilirubin, proteins) to get further information
In addition, imaging of the abdomen particularly the liver, may be helpful. This may be an ultrasound or CT
Causes of increased liver enzymes include: (a) infection- hepatitis
(b)alcohol use is also a cause
(c)non alcohol fatty liver disease- this is the build up of fat in the liver NOT due to alcohol use.
It is related to unhealthty diet and inadequate activity. The fat can progress to cause inflammation and damage to the liver
(d)side effect of medication
(e)trauma to the liver
(f)mass in the liver
These are the more common causes
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
impaired liver function/ liver not working as it should
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
AST and ALT are two of the blood tests that take a look at the liver.
Other liver function tests are alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, GGT. Proteins can also give an idea of liver function.
The normal range for AST is 10 to 40 and ALT 7 to 56 though it can vary slightly from one lab to the next.
The increase in liver function is considered mild if it is 2 to 3 times above the upper limit but in your case, both of your values are above this.
This means that there is a moderate increase in these liver enzymes which means that there may be impaired liver function (liver may not be working well).
You should consider the other tests mentioned (alkaline phosphatase, GGT, bilirubin, proteins) to get further information
In addition, imaging of the abdomen particularly the liver, may be helpful. This may be an ultrasound or CT
Causes of increased liver enzymes include: (a) infection- hepatitis
(b)alcohol use is also a cause
(c)non alcohol fatty liver disease- this is the build up of fat in the liver NOT due to alcohol use.
It is related to unhealthty diet and inadequate activity. The fat can progress to cause inflammation and damage to the liver
(d)side effect of medication
(e)trauma to the liver
(f)mass in the liver
These are the more common causes
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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