Huey,

GGT is alcohol specific. Alcohol consumption raises the GGT while ALT and AST are not affected in a normal patient.

Smoking also elevates GGT and ALT, and heavy coffee consumption may do the same. If you want to get your lowest ALT reading from your Lab., lay off the coffee and fags for a few days, and make sure you are well hydrated! Cheers.

Thanks Mallani, I always learn from you, \ So Doctors do not use the Ratio of ATL's to AST's to determine if someone has been Drinking?  I always thought they did, Wen I  had refereed to this in the past , that is the scenario I have in mind.

Sorry Huey,

I know you've said this before, but the AST:ALT ratio is not important, except in diagnosing cirrhosis.

Both AST and ALT are found in liver cell cytoplasm, so they are released into the blood when liver cells are damaged or die. Patients vary enormously in normal levels- some may have a low AST with a much higher ALT and vice versa. Having a level below the normal limits given by a Lab. means nothing.

AST is found in other tissues particularly heat and skeletal muscle. Your AST will go up after strenuous exercise. It is raised in pancreatitis, renal disease and heart attacks. Many medicines /herbs also raise AST in relation to ALT.

ALT is found mostly in the liver cells. That's why it is said to be liver-specific, and the most important enzyme in following HCV progress. A small amount is in kidneys, heart and skeletal muscle. Some drugs may also raise the ALT, but not to the same extent as AST.

We don't know why some patients with HCV (even cirrhotics), consistently have normal AST and ALT levels. It does not reflect the degree of liver damage. Most patients will have an elevated ALT (up to 500), and this goes up and down reflecting the cycles of acute flares in HCV.

If the AST becomes higher than the ALT (if both are elevated), cirrhosis is likely.

Hi Skewed,

I wanted you to be aware of the discussion he was having with Debra on a similar topic, that's all. I'm glad you were able to get your question and concern answered. Best of luck...

Tig

The Doctors compare the AST to the ALT levels,, it is the ratio between them they look at not how high or low it gets, FYI

Tig,

I PM'd Malcom and he said my numbers are fine and did not apply to the aforementioned thread.

Well my AST was right smack in the middle of the normal range 23. The high side of normal at my lab is 46. My cardiologist did not seemed concerned with the levels. I have read that Ativan can raise AST levels. I just don't know...

Hey Skewed,

Malcolm was just discussing this with Debra yesterday and she exhibited something similar. I will refer you to that thread.

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t58843078/lopsided/#lastPostAnchor

Tig

Hi guys,

I had my cardiologist to order a liver panel and everything came back within normal range except my ALT. The range for ALT at this lab is 13 - 69 and my ALT was flagged as low:

ALT: 8

I'm not sure how to interpret that. My AST was 23 (that's because I'm taking Ativan--I hope)

Anybody have any idea why it would be that low?