What liver diseases cause abnormal aminotransferase levels?
The highest levels of AST and ALT are found with disorders that cause the death of numerous liver cells (extensive hepatic necrosis). This occurs in such conditions as: • acute viral hepatitis A or B, • pronounced liver damage inflicted by toxins as from an overdose of acetaminophen (brand-name Tylenol), and • prolonged collapse of the circulatory system (shock) when the liver is deprived of fresh blood bringing oxygen and nutrients. AST and ALT serum levels in these situations can range anywhere from ten times the upper limits of normal to thousands of units/liter. Mild to moderate elevations of the liver enzymes are commonplace. They are often unexpectedly encountered on routine blood screening tests in otherwise healthy individuals. The AST and ALT levels in such cases are usually between twice the upper limits of normal and several hundred units/liter. One of the most common cause of mild to moderate elevations of these liver enzymes is fatty liver. In the United States, the most f
