Alanine transaminase
Alanine transaminase or ALT is (mostly) a liver enzyme. The spillover of this enzyme into blood is routinely measured as a marker of liver-cell damage. This helps distinguish liver disease caused by liver-cell damage from diseases caused by problems in biliary ducts.
ALT is markedly raised in hepatitis and other acute liver damage. The enzyme aspartate transaminase (AST) has a similar role, but this enzyme tends to be found in other tissues, such as the heart, so is not as specific to the liver.
Referenced By
Reference ranges for common blood tests
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