ALT and AST meanings.....

Question

I have learned my ALT is 229,104H and U/L 11-44.
 AST 258,128H and U/L 16-43.
 Are these numbers considered high?
 Thanks, Donald

mk_ · Accepted Answer

U/L = Unit per liter, and the the two numbers with a dash indicate low and high values of a normal range. 

Those ranges differ a little from lab to lab,  but they are approximately between 5-45 U/L for AST and  5-60 U/L for ALT. 
So the reference ranges you lab used are: ALT 11-44 and AST 16,43.

I am not sure how ALT 229,104H and AST 258,128H are  actually printed on your lab report, but I think, more likely, ALT is 229 and AST is 258?

Any numbers out of the normal ranges could be considered high (or low). 

Three digit numbers would be considered high.

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"
ALT and AST are enzymes made in the liver. They are also known as transaminases. The liver uses these enzymes to metabolize amino acids and to make proteins. When liver cells are damaged or dying, ALT and AST leak into the bloodstream. Many different things can cause liver enzymes to rise above normal levels, including:

Viral hepatitis
Excessive alcohol intake/Alcoholic liver disease
Liver inflammation from medications and certain herbs,
Auto-immune hepatitis - a condition where a person's immune system mistakes the liver for an invader and attacks it,
Fatty liver- fat build -up in liver cells, called steatohepatitis when the fatty liver is inflamed
Inherited liver diseases
Liver tumors
Heart failure

ALT (also called alanine aminotransferase or SGPT) is found in the liver only. High levels of ALT in the bloodstream mean that there may be liver inflammation and/or damage. This test cannot predict liver damage or disease progression. It is simply a direct measurement of the amount of ALT in the person's bloodstream at the time of the test. The normal range of ALT levels is between 5 IU/L to 60 IU/L (International Units per Liter). ALT levels in people with HCV often rise and fall over time, so additional testing such as HCV RNA, HCV genotyping and a liver biopsy may be needed to help determine the cause and extent of liver damage.

AST (also called aspartate aminotransferase or SGOT) is found in other organs besides the liver. High AST levels in the bloodstream can be a sign of liver trouble. AST testing measures the level of AST in a person's bloodstream at a given time. The normal range for AST levels in the bloodstream are 5 IU/L to 43 IU/L. Like ALT levels, AST levels in people with HCV often vary over time and can't be used to forecast disease progression or specifically measure liver damage.
"
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hope it helps.

gatordonald · Answer

Thank you all for your input, I've been the hospital for a couple of days with stomach pain.
They could not tell the cause or if it pertains to hepc. I have an appointment tomorrow in
Orlando to see a gi Dr. and I hope to get some answers.  Good Day,Donald

merryBe · Answer

yes, they are high, but it may be related to things other than HCV.

are you in the acute or chronic phase of HCV?
what meds are you on?
Have you asked your doctor what your Meld score is?
Have you had your ammonia levle checked?
What is your bilurubin #?

If you'd care to answer any of these questions we might be able to help you ascertain whether you could get those numbers down whether you are treating or not.

mb

HCVguy · Answer

These levels are elevated and typical of someone with Hep C. Numbers above a thousand would be high and indicate acute hepatitis. Keep several things in mind when looking at these. They don't reflect liver damage. Both can be affected by other things like medication and alcohol consumption among others. They vary quite a bit and can even return to normal without the person clearing Hep C.

ALT and AST meanings.....

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