Alanine Aminotransferase Levels: What's Normal?
Authors: Marshall M. Kaplan
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Editorials2 July 2002Alanine Aminotransferase Levels: What's Normal?Marshall M. Kaplan, MDMarshall M. Kaplan, MDTufts–New England Medical Center; Boston, MA 02111Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-1-200207020-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a sensitive indicator of liver cell injury, has been used to identify patients with liver disease for almost 50 years (1). This cytosolic enzyme, which is found in many organs, catalyzes the transfer of the α-amino group from alanine to α-ketoglutaric acid (2). Alanine aminotransferase levels are particularly high in the liver. For detection of liver diseases, ALT is thought to be a more specific indicator than aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme found in cytosol and mitochondria (3). Serum levels of ALT normally are low—167 to 667 nkat/L (10 to 40 U/L) in most laboratories; however, normal values ...References1. Karmen A, Wroblewski F, LaDue JS. Transaminase activity in human blood. J Clin Invest. 1955;34:126-33. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Awapara J, Seale B. Distribution of transaminases in rat organs. J Biol Chem. 1952;194:497-502. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Rej R. Aspartate aminotransferase activity and isoenzyme proportions in human liver tissues. Clin Chem. 1971;24:24-9. Google Scholar4. Kallei L, Hahn A, Roder VZ. Correlation between histological findings and serum transaminase values in chronic diseases of the liver. Acta Medica Scandinavika. 1964;175:49-56. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Prati D, Taioli E, Zanella A, Della Torre E, Butelli S, Del Vecchio E, et al . Updated definitions of healthy ranges for serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:1-9. LinkGoogle Scholar6. Wejstål R, Hansson G, Lindholm A, Norkrans G. 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Martinot-Peignoux M, Boyer N, Cazals-Hatem D, Pham BN, Gervais A, Le Breton V, et al . Prospective study on anti-hepatitis C virus-positive patients with persistently normal serum alanine transaminase with or without detectable serum hepatitis C virus RNA. Hepatology. 2001;34:1000-5. [PMID: 11679971] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar20. Jacobson IM, Russo MW, Lebovics E, Esposito S, Tobias H, Klion F. Interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C and normal ALT: final results [Abstract]. Gastroenterology. 2002;122:A-627. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Tufts–New England Medical Center; Boston, MA 02111Corresponding Author: Marshall M. Kaplan, MD, Tufts–New England Medical Center, 750 Washington Street, Box 233, Boston, MA 02111; e-mail, [email protected]org. 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Senior, MDHealthy Ranges for Alanine Aminotransferase LevelsDaniele Prati, MD, Agostino Colli, MD, and Dario Conte, MDHealthy ranges of serum alanine aminotransferase levels in Iranian blood donorsLiver biopsy in living donors 2 July 2002Volume 137, Issue 1Page: 49-51KeywordsAlanine aminotransferaseBlood banksBlood donorsBody mass indexFatty liverLiverLiver diseasesNonalcoholic steatohepatitisResearch designSteatosis ePublished: 2 July 2002 Issue Published: 2 July 2002 CopyrightCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...