Which Elevated Liver Enzymes Are Harmful?

Elevated liver enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), are often evaluated in relation to liver health. Common causes of elevated liver enzymes include nonprescription pain medicines, certain prescription medicines, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, cancer, celiac disease, liver cirrhosis, hemolysis, metabolic syndrome, and muscle conditions like polymyositis. Elevated liver enzymes often indicate inflamed or damaged liver cells, which leak higher levels of certain chemicals. Blood tests check for raised levels of AST and ALT, which are enzymes released by the liver when it becomes inflamed or damaged. High liver enzyme levels are mainly caused by alcohol consumption, and patients with severe acute elevation of liver enzymes often present with more pronounced fatigue. Elevated liver enzyme levels can be a sign of serious liver disease or mild, temporary illnesses. The interpretation of elevated AST and ALT results depends on the entire patient’s symptoms and the specific cause of the liver damage.

What if my liver enzymes are over 100?

Elevated liver enzymes often are a sign of inflamed or damaged cells in the liver. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher levels of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals include liver enzymes that may appear higher than usual on blood tests.

What is a dangerously high liver enzyme level?

• Typically the range for normal AST is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter and ALT between 7 to 56 units per liter.
• Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than the normal range.
• In some conditions, these enzymes can be severely elevated, in the 1000s range.

What Are Elevated (High) Levels of AST and ALT?. Elevated levels of liver enzymes in general signify some form of liver (or hepatic) damage or injury.

• These levels may be elevated acutely (short term) indicating sudden injury to the liver, or they may be elevated chronically (long term) suggesting ongoing liver injury.
• In addition to the duration, the level of abnormal elevation of the aminotransferases is also significant.
• In some conditions the elevation could be mild, consistent with a mild injury or inflammation of the liver.
• They can also be severely elevated, possibly up to 10 to 20 times the normal values, suggesting more significant damage to the liver.

Is 300 high for liver enzymes?

Alanine amino transferase (ALT) is a protein found in the kidney, heart, muscle, and liver, with a higher concentration in the liver. It catalyzes the transamination reaction and is primarily found in the liver. Elevated ALT levels are considered nonspecific, and marked elevations greater than 500 U/L are most often observed in individuals with diseases that affect hepatocytes, such as viral hepatitis, ischemic liver injury (shock liver), and toxin-induced liver damage.

Viral hepatitis like A, B, C, D, and E may be responsible for a marked increase in aminotransferase levels. The absolute peak of ALT elevation does not correlate with the extent of liver cell damage. Elevation in ALT levels are greater in persons with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis than in those with uncomplicated hepatic steatosis. Hepatic fat accumulation in childhood obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease cause serum ALT elevation, and increased ALT levels have been associated with reduced insulin sensitivity, adiponectin, glucose tolerance, increased free fatty acids and triglycerides.

Aspartate amino transferase (AST) is another protein found in the heart and has two genetically distinct isoenzyme forms: mitochondrial and cytoplasmic. Normal serum AST is 0 to 35 U/L. Elevated mitochondrial AST is seen in extensive tissue necrosis during myocardial infarction and chronic liver diseases like liver tissue degeneration and necrosis. The ratio of mitochondrial AST to total AST activity has diagnostic importance in identifying liver cell necrotic type condition and alcoholic hepatitis.

The AST/ALT ratio has more clinical utility than assessing individual elevated levels. A coenzyme pyridoxal-5′-phosphate deficiency may depress serum ALT activity and consequently increases the AST/ALT ratio. The ratio increases in progressive liver functional impairment and has 81. 3 sensitivity and 55. 3 specificity in identifying cirrhotic patients. The ratio greater than 1. 17 was found in one year survival among patients with cirrhosis of viral cause with 87 sensitivity and 52 specificity. An elevated ratio greater than 1 shows advanced liver fibrosis and chronic hepatitis C infection. However, an AST/ALT ratio greater than 2 characteristically is present in alcoholic hepatitis. A recent study differentiated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from alcoholic liver disease, showing an AST/ALT ratio of 0. 9 in NASH and 2. 6 in patients with alcoholic liver disease. A mean ratio of 1. 4 was found in patients with cirrhosis related to NASH. Wilson’s disease can cause the ratio to exceed 4. 5, and similar such altered ratio is found even in hyperthyroidism.

What number is dangerous for liver enzymes?

ALT levels higher than 29 to 33 international units per liter (IU/L) in men and 19 to 25 IU/L in women may be a sign of liver disease. The average range for ALP tests is 44 to 147 IU/L. Higher levels may point to problems with the liver. The normal range for GGT levels in the blood is 9 to 48 U/L.

Tests for liver function involve testing the blood to diagnose liver diseases and determine how well the liver carries out its normal functions. Some tests will measure the level of specific proteins in your blood. Others will check for the presence and amount of enzymes produced by liver cells in response to disease or damage.

AST levels higher than 10 to 40 units/L in men and 9 to 32 units/L in women may indicate reduced liver function.

ALT levels higher than 29 to 33 international units per liter (IU/L) in men and 19 to 25 IU/L in women may be a sign of liver disease.

Is ALT 150 need for concern?

Our ALT shows up high whenever our liver is dealing with any infection or poison or even a hard to digest food such as fried meat. It is common for them to be high in people who have recently had alcohol or paracetamol. With infections, and these can be other diseases like flu or an septic wound they go up as the liver fights back. If they are constantly in the 50 to 200 range we term the hepatitis B infection active. ALT’s range from 0 up to 3000 or so in many acute hepatitis cases. They change with every meal so it is important not to panic if they go from 20 to 45 after a few months. All scores below 45 indicate a perfectly healthy score.

GGT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) is elevated in those who use alcohol or toxins.

Our GST shows up high between 50 and 200 if we are often taking paracetamol or using alcohol a lot. It is often a sign of alcoholism or longer term liver damage, but can be reversed by adopting a alcohol free or toxin free lifestyle.

Is 400 a high ALT level?

Our ALT shows up high whenever our liver is dealing with any infection or poison or even a hard to digest food such as fried meat. It is common for them to be high in people who have recently had alcohol or paracetamol. With infections, and these can be other diseases like flu or an septic wound they go up as the liver fights back. If they are constantly in the 50 to 200 range we term the hepatitis B infection active. ALT’s range from 0 up to 3000 or so in many acute hepatitis cases. They change with every meal so it is important not to panic if they go from 20 to 45 after a few months. All scores below 45 indicate a perfectly healthy score.

GGT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) is elevated in those who use alcohol or toxins.

Our GST shows up high between 50 and 200 if we are often taking paracetamol or using alcohol a lot. It is often a sign of alcoholism or longer term liver damage, but can be reversed by adopting a alcohol free or toxin free lifestyle.

If our Bilirubin is elevated, the patient may have a yellow colour skin and eyes, jaundice. Bilirubin is a bile product made by the liver to digest food and it often is overproduced when we first get Hepatitis B or C, then it back fires into the blood stream causing the yellow effect to eyes and skin. It can cause itching and skin irritation as it is sweated out. If it goes up during chronic Hepatitis B or C infection it is a sign of poor food and drink or liver disease. Milk thistle herbal pills are proven to help lower Bilirubin scores so many Hepatitis patients take it.

Is ALT 200 a need for concern?

Our ALT shows up high whenever our liver is dealing with any infection or poison or even a hard to digest food such as fried meat. It is common for them to be high in people who have recently had alcohol or paracetamol. With infections, and these can be other diseases like flu or an septic wound they go up as the liver fights back. If they are constantly in the 50 to 200 range we term the hepatitis B infection active. ALT’s range from 0 up to 3000 or so in many acute hepatitis cases. They change with every meal so it is important not to panic if they go from 20 to 45 after a few months. All scores below 45 indicate a perfectly healthy score.

GGT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) is elevated in those who use alcohol or toxins.

Our GST shows up high between 50 and 200 if we are often taking paracetamol or using alcohol a lot. It is often a sign of alcoholism or longer term liver damage, but can be reversed by adopting a alcohol free or toxin free lifestyle.

Is 120 a high ALT level?

An ALT test result of >100 IU/l is a clear indicator of serious liver disease, but a mildly elevated ALT result (30–100 IU/l) is often ascribed to the use of medication (for example statins) or alcohol, obesity, or, for lower ALT levels (<50 IU/l), considered as part of the normal distribution of test results.

Background. Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection can lead to serious complications if left untreated, but often remain undetected in primary care. Mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations (30–100 IU/l) are commonly found and could be associated with viral hepatitis; unfortunately, these findings frequently remain without follow-up.

Aim. To determine if and how mild ALT elevation can be used to identify hidden HCV and HBV infection in primary care.

Design and setting. Primary care patients referred for liver enzyme testing were selected by a large primary care Diagnostic Centre (Saltro).

Is 65 a high ALT level?

You should get your results within a few hours or a few days, depending on the lab your doctor uses. The lab report will tell you whether your ALT numbers fall within a normal range, typically about 7 to 56 units per liter (U/L) of blood. Some labs may use other ranges. Usually, ALT levels are higher in men than in women and children. Levels also tend to be higher in younger people than in older people. People of Mexican-American heritage are also known to have higher ALT levels.

Not everyone with high ALT levels has a medical condition that needs treatment. Fewer than 5% of people with high levels will turn out to have a severe liver condition. Remember that your results could be temporarily abnormal after you take certain medicines or exercise intensely. Even having a menstrual period might change ALT levels.

While a high level of ALT can mean you have liver damage, it can’t tell you how bad the damage is. Other tests will help your doctor get a clearer picture.

What is an alarming ALT level?

An ALT test result of >100 IU/l is a clear indicator of serious liver disease, but a mildly elevated ALT result (30–100 IU/l) is often ascribed to the use of medication (for example statins) or alcohol, obesity, or, for lower ALT levels (<50 IU/l), considered as part of the normal distribution of test results.

Background. Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection can lead to serious complications if left untreated, but often remain undetected in primary care. Mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations (30–100 IU/l) are commonly found and could be associated with viral hepatitis; unfortunately, these findings frequently remain without follow-up.

Aim. To determine if and how mild ALT elevation can be used to identify hidden HCV and HBV infection in primary care.

Design and setting. Primary care patients referred for liver enzyme testing were selected by a large primary care Diagnostic Centre (Saltro).

Is 200 a high liver enzyme count?

Determination of Specific Liver Disorders. Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis. Acute alcoholic hepatitis may be mild or life threatening. The pattern of liver test abnormality is hepatocellular. The AST is typically in the 100 to 200 IU/L range, even in severe disease, and the ALT level may be normal, even in severe cases. The AST level is higher than the ALT level, and the ratio is greater than 2:1 in 70% of patients. A ratio greater than 3 is strongly indicative of alcoholic hepatitis. An important corollary is that an AST greater than 500 IU/L or an ALT greater than 200 IU/L is not likely to be explained by acute alcoholic hepatitis—even in an alcoholic patient—and should suggest another etiology.

The degrees of bilirubin level increase and prothrombin time elevation are better indicators of severity of disease. In alcoholic hepatitis, the Maddrey discriminant function (MDF), a disease-specific prognostic score which indicates the severity of liver injury, has been developed. The formula to calculate the score is as follows:

MDF = 4. 6 (patient’s prothrombin time − control prothrombin time) + total bilirubin (mg/dL)