For a correct and timely diagnosis, often just examining the patient and collecting an anamnesis is often not enough. The leading role in diagnosing the disease is played by various types of studies, including determination of blood biochemical parameters.
Elevated levels of transaminases. What do the analysis results say?
Determination of the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is indispensable in the study of the liver, heart, pancreas. An increase or, conversely, a decrease in the level of transaminase in the blood may indicate serious diseases such as myopathy, gout, various bone neoplasms. With burns, occupying a large area, serious injuries, the above enzymes increase.
ALT and AST are elevated, and significantly with liver diseases. But if the indicators of the thymol test are higher than normal, then this signals a liver damage with viral hepatitis.
The levels of ALT and AST enzymes are elevated with myocardial infarction, myocarditis, heart failure. It should be noted that if the increased level of AST transferase does not decrease from the moment of the attack, this indicates the possibility of an unfavorable prognosis for the patient. It is believed that if an increase in AST and ALT is less than 10 times, this may indicate a number of diseases that are different from liver damage. An increase in their level by more than 10 times indicates liver disease - hepatitis (viral, toxic, ischemic or autoimmune), fatty hepatosis, and liver cancer.
Rules for collecting blood biochemistry analysis
To determine the level of AST and ALT, a blood test is taken strictly on an empty stomach. In this case, dinner is allowed no later than 18 o’clock in the evening; at the preceding blood sampling for 8 hours, meals should be excluded, including any liquid. Often, blood is taken for biochemistry in a polyclinic in the morning, up to 10 hours. In hospitals, as a rule, around the clock.
The fact that ALT and AST are elevated can be said when the indicators of the biochemical analysis of blood are exceeded following indicators:
- for ALT - 0.1-0.68 μmol / (ml * h);
- for AST - 0.1-0.45 μmol / (ml * h).
In the case of a decrease in the level of transaminase enzymes, a deficiency in the body of vitamin pyridoxine (B6) can be suspected.
Also, for the correct diagnosis, the Ritis index is used. Normally, this indicator should be 1.3. With an increase in it, we can talk about the possibility of myocardial infarction, with a decrease - about viral hepatitis.
It should be noted that in the first trimester of pregnancy, a non-critical increase in ALT transaminase levels may be noted. The analysis should be repeated one month after delivery. If the level is low, there is no reason for concern.
And yet, what to do?
Firstly, it should exclude the intake in the period prior to the analysis of certain drugs that provoke an increase in the level of transferases in the blood. Secondly, if the levels of ALT and AST are elevated, do not delay the visit to the doctor. Remember that only a specialist can prescribe treatment. Self-medication can lead to sad consequences.