What does high ALT and ALP mean?
There are several other types of blood tests that check your liver function. These include bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests. If these results are normal and your alkaline phosphatase levels are high, it may mean the problem is not in your liver.
What is considered extremely high ALT?
Typically the range for normal AST is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter and ALT between 7 to 56 units per liter. Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than the normal range. In some conditions, these enzymes can be severely elevated, in the 1000s range.
What does high ALP mean in dogs?
An increase in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is a common laboratory finding in dogs. It is typically used as a diagnostic marker for cholestatic liver disease. However, increased ALP activity has a high sensitivity (86%) but poor specificity (49%) for canine liver disease.
What causes high ALT and ALP in dogs?
But in terms of big categories, causes of increased ALP can be hepatic disease such as nodular hyperplasia (a very common, completely benign cause of increased ALP in older dogs), vacuolar hepatopathy (common with Cushing’s disease), toxins, chronic hepatitis, neoplasia, biliary tract disease (such as a gallbladder …
What is considered a high level of ALP?
The ALP level in healthy adults should be 20–140 units per liter (U/L) . Children tend to have significantly higher levels of ALP than adults because their bones are still growing. A person recovering from a bone injury may also have a raised ALP level in the 3 months after the injury while their bone heals.
Why is ALP high?
Higher-than-normal levels of ALP in your blood may indicate a problem with your liver or gallbladder. This could include hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, gallstones, or a blockage in your bile ducts.
Is ALT level of 54 high?
A person with a healthy liver will have an ALT level in the normal range. The normal range can vary from laboratory to laboratory. According to the Mayo Clinic, the normal range for adult males is 7–55 units per liter. Females may have a lower upper limit normal than males.
Is there absence of liver specificity for Alt?
Sivenson C L & Graves T K (1997) Absence of liver specificity for canine alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Vet Clin Pathol 26 (1), 26-28.
Where is ALP found in the human body?
ALP is an enzyme found throughout the body, but it is mostly found in the liver, bones, kidneys, and digestive system. When the liver is damaged, ALP may leak into the bloodstream. High levels of ALP can indicate liver disease or bone disorders.
What causes ALP levels to be higher than normal?
ALP levels can vary for different groups. Pregnancy can cause higher than normal ALP levels. Children and teens may have high levels of ALP because their bones are growing. Certain drugs, such as birth control pills, may lower ALP levels, while other medicines can cause the levels to increase. American Liver Foundation. [Internet].
Where does Alt and ALP come from in cats?
ALT is very specific to leaking, damaged liver cells, but is otherwise pretty non-specific. ALP is fairly specific for biliary (bile ducts and gallbladder) damage in the cat, but it can come from the tiny bile ducts in the liver or the gallbladder and large ducts outside the liver.
Is there an ALT test for dogs and cats?
It is useful as a specific indicator of hepatocellular injury in dogs and cats. ALT is not a useful indicator of liver disease in large animals, and pigs, due to low enzyme activity in liver tissue of these species. SDH and GLDH are viable alternatives to ALT in all species.
Sivenson C L & Graves T K (1997) Absence of liver specificity for canine alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Vet Clin Pathol 26 (1), 26-28.
Why is ALT activity higher in dogs with hepatopathy?
Activity is higher in dogs with steroid hepatopathy (where actual hepatocellular injury occurs). This is currently attributed to altered permeability and not due to increased synthesis. Any drugs that can cause hepatotoxicity can result in increased ALT activity, e.g. tetracycline in cats, caparsolate in dogs, acetaminophen.
