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What Causes Elevated ALT Levels?
Posted on
Mon, 13 Apr 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 13 Apr 2015
Answered on
Tue, 5 May 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Is an alt reading of 87 and a ast reading of 66 a severe problem?
Brief Answer:
mild to moderate increase
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The normal range of AST is 5 to 40 and the normal range of ALT is 7 to 56 though these ranges can vary slightly from one lab to the next.
Your values though high are not highly alarming.
The most common reason for increase in these levels is fatty liver. This is the build up of fat in the liver.
There are 2 types, alcoholic fatty liver ( due to excess alcohol intake ) and non alcoholic fatty liver (due to diet, inactivity, associated with diabetes, high cholesterol, increased weight).
Fatty liver can go on to liver failure if treatment is not started.
If related to alcohol then it needs to be stopped.
If related to non alcoholic fatty liver then treatment involves- statin, diet changes to healthy diet, activity
The ultrasound would be able to check to see cause.
Other causes of increased AST, ALT are- infection (hepatitis), trauma, side effect of medication, mass in liver.
Summary: (1)mild to moderate increase that needs monitoring
(2)treatment depends on cause
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
mild to moderate increase
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The normal range of AST is 5 to 40 and the normal range of ALT is 7 to 56 though these ranges can vary slightly from one lab to the next.
Your values though high are not highly alarming.
The most common reason for increase in these levels is fatty liver. This is the build up of fat in the liver.
There are 2 types, alcoholic fatty liver ( due to excess alcohol intake ) and non alcoholic fatty liver (due to diet, inactivity, associated with diabetes, high cholesterol, increased weight).
Fatty liver can go on to liver failure if treatment is not started.
If related to alcohol then it needs to be stopped.
If related to non alcoholic fatty liver then treatment involves- statin, diet changes to healthy diet, activity
The ultrasound would be able to check to see cause.
Other causes of increased AST, ALT are- infection (hepatitis), trauma, side effect of medication, mass in liver.
Summary: (1)mild to moderate increase that needs monitoring
(2)treatment depends on cause
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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