Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), Serum Glutamate-pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT), SGPT (Serum Glutamate-pyruvate Transaminase)

What To Think About

• The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value is often used along with the results of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test to obtain the AST to ALT ratio. This value can often help determine whether there is damage to the liver related to alcohol abuse. For more information, see the medical test Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST).
• In children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), very high ALT levels may mean that the disease is likely to progress rapidly.
• Many different conditions can raise ALT blood levels, so other testing is usually needed to interpret an abnormal ALT result.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: January 2, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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