About the test
Transaminases are hepatic enzymes whose value is elevated mainly in hepatic disease.
There are two kinds of transaminases:
1. The serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase or aspartate aminotransferase(SGOT / AST).
2. The serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase or alanine aminotransferase (SGPT / ALT).
SGOT/AST
SGOT is found in the liver, the heart, the muscles and the kidneys. Its screening results in measurement of its quantity that has been released from injured tissues.
SGPT/ALT
SGPT is found mainly in the liver and that’s why it constitutes a more specific index of hepatocyte impairment related to SGOT.
Sample
Venous blood
Preparation
None required. Water is allowed.
Procedure
Venipuncture
Increased values
- Viral hepatitides
- Alcoholic disease of the liver
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Liver cancer
- Myocardial infarction
- Bile duct obstruction
- Drugs (paracetamol, antiepileptics, antibiotics, salicylates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heparin, iron)
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Toxic substances
- Budd Chiari syndrome
- Hemochromatosis
- Addison’s disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Anorexia nervosa
Decreased values
- Pregnancy
- Uremia
- Drugs (metronidazole)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
Additional information
The degree of transaminases’ elevation as well as the analogy SGOT/SGPT constitutes an important diagnostic tools for medical doctors. For example, a small transaminase elevation is usually indicative of obstruction, whereas a bigger elevation suggests hepatitis.