Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and ...
Why it matters: ALT and AST are key liver enzymes, and changes in their levels can indicate liver cell injury or other health ...
Liver enzymes are proteins in your liver that speed up chemical reactions. If your liver is damaged, blood tests will show abnormally high levels of these enzymes circulating in your bloodstream.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an enzyme that appears mostly in the liver. Having high levels of ALT may be a sign of liver disease. While ALT can also be found in the kidneys, heart, and muscle ...
Blood tests can help with the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. These include tests for increased liver enzymes or antibody levels. However, other tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.