what does liver functions alt sgpt mean
ALT is normally found inside liver cells. However, when the liver is damaged or inflamed, ALT can be released into your bloodstream. This causes serum ALT levels to rise. Measuring the level of ALT in the blood can help doctors evaluate liver function or determine the underlying cause of a liver problem. The ALT test is often part of an initial screening for liver disease. An ALT test is also known as a serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) test or an alanine transaminase test.
The two aminotransferases that are checked are the alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT). These liver enzymes form a major constituent of the liver cells. They are present in lesser concentration in the muscle cells.