The ALT blood test is the exact same test as the SGPT blood test in years’ past. It has simply been given a new name. The serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase blood test would measure the amount of alanine aminotransferase that was in the blood just as the current test results do. ALT is an enzyme that is produced primarily in the liver, but can also be found in the pancreas, kidneys, muscles, and heart. The ALT SGPT blood test results help to explain whether or not liver damage has occurred.
It is often ordered with additional blood tests so a complete overview of an individual’s health can be viewed. Common supplementary tests include the LDH blood test, bilirubin testing, and the AST blood test. The ALT SGPT blood test may also be ordered to determine the cause of jaundice and to track if ordered medication is causing liver damage.
It may also be ordered when a patient is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of a liver disorder. This usually involves a feeling of weakness that is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, and persistent itching. A loss of appetite may also be experienced. If there is darker than normal urine despite frequent beverage consumption accompanied by bowel movements that are light and gray in color, then the ALT SGPT blood test can be used to detect internal damage.
What Do My Blood Test Results Mean?
Normal values in the ALT SGPT blood test are between 7-55 units per liter. Many results are given as the number only. Anything within this range is treated as a lack of liver, muscle, or organ damage occurring. Values may be low or high and each respective result may mean something different.
When there are extremely high ALT levels that are above 550, then the most common reason for this test result is the presence of an acute hepatitis infection. Certain viral infections of the liver not related to hepatitis have also been known to produce similar results. It may take up to 6 months before ALT levels will begin returning back to a normal range.
Medication, illicit drugs, and other substances that may cause acute liver damage have been known to create ALT SGPT blood test results that are higher than 5,500. This result may also be an indicator that there is a decreased level of blood coming to the liver.
Most people who have high test results, however, will have a reading that is in the 56-220 range. This may indicate the presence of a chronic hepatitis infection, a bile duct obstruction, or the presence of liver cirrhosis. Tumors on the liver, heart damage, and alcohol abuse have also been known to cause results in this range.
Low test results that are 6 or below are typically considered medically insignificant, but when combined with other tests could indicate an issue that may need to be addressed. Low ALT SGPT blood test results must be compared with an individual’s medical history in order to determine the issue.
Here’s What You Need To Know
Because muscle damage can increase the amount of ALT enzymes that are in the blood, it is important to limit strenuous exercises for 7-14 days before the blood test. Although the boost in liver enzymes may be minor, it could be enough to push the test results into a range that concerns medical providers. Inform the ordering doctor of strength training routines so that test results are properly interpreted.
Having small increases in ALT levels has also been associated with a recent heart attack. If chest pains are experienced, especially those that go down an arm or reach down into the lower back, then it is important to receive medical assistance immediately.
ALT enzymes are released into the blood as liver damage occurs, so it is very common to see increased levels on a blood test result before any of the symptoms of liver damage, such as cirrhosis, have occurred. This is why it is often ordered as part of a comprehensive liver panel to determine the status of an individual’s health. Some medical providers may choose to order this blood test as part of the annual physical exam because of its effectiveness at detecting the early signs of organ or muscle damage.
Certain supplements may also cause liver damage in individuals even though they are purchased over the counter. Make sure to inform a medical provider of all medications, vitamins, and supplements that are being taken so that a complete picture of health can be obtained from the ALT SGPT blood test.
The ALT SGPT blood test may have gone through a name change, but its effectiveness is still the same. Speak with a medical provider about this test if you suspect a problem with the liver so that an accurate diagnosis can be received.