Elevated ALT levels in the blood of women, men, children. Causes of what that means, treatment for obesity, pregnancy

Abbreviations "ALT" and "ACT" in the blank with the results of biochemical analysis of blood in men and women cause desire to understand what it is and what they say numbers affixed. Because doctors do not always explain to patients need to learn to understand the rules and elevated or low results on their own.

What does it mean ALT and AST in blood chemistry

Alaninaminotrasferaza (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) - are enzymes present in the cells of internal organs. Their main function - the regulation of metabolic processes occurring in the body. A small number of both enzymes is also in healthy human blood.

The erythrocyte concentration 10 times higher than in serum, but 1,000 times less than, for example, in liver cells. However, there are a number of diseases of internal organs, resulting in massive loss of cells from which they are composed.

When cell membranes are destroyed, they contain enzymes through vascular walls absorbed into the bloodstream, which leads to an increase in its concentration of ALT and AST. For each of the diseases typical of their enzyme levels and the ratio of their number.

If you suspect a disease prescribed biochemical analysis, which aims - to determine the level of enzymes in the data serum that allows to confirm, refine or refute the preliminary diagnosis and prescribe an appropriate treatment.

Alaninaminotrasferaza: the role of the enzyme in the human body

ALT - bioactive substances involved in the synthesis of amino acids from which proteins are built, which are the "building material" for all structures of the human body.

In addition, this enzyme is involved in the processes of nitrogen and energy metabolism: It plays a role catalytic chemical reactions that are needed to maintain the body's vital functions and ensure its energy.

Norms for women, men, children

ALT in the blood depends on the sex (male or female) and age. As a rule, children, this figure is gradually changed, then rising, then declining and reaching to 17 years of "adult" level stabilizes.

Data showing the average concentration of the enzyme in the blood plasma of healthy people, the following:

Age, sex	The level of ALT (U / L)
Adults
Women older than 17 years	31
Men older than 17 years	41
Children
Newborns	17
Infants 6 months.	56
Young children (3 years)	33
Preschool children (6 years)	29
Teen boys (12-16 years)	27
Teenage girls (12-16 years)	24

In the newborn in the first days of life ALT figure may be overstated due to the post-natal jaundice - the release of hemoglobin in the baby's bloodstream. Decaying, red blood cells to increase the amount of enzyme in the blood serum. Usually within 2-3 weeks of its normal level.

In some cases, prescribe study

Typically, biochemical blood analysis to determine the level alaninaminotrasferazy administered for suspected of liver disease:

• persistent pain in his right side, in the area under the ribs;
• nausea;
• loss of appetite;
• weakness;
• yellowing of the skin;
• stool color change (bleaching).

Also, the analysis can be assigned to:

• diagnosis of heart disease, the pancreas;
• detection of cancer;
• definition of prior drug treatment.

Compulsory biochemical examination for the purpose of determining the level of ALT are assigned:

• pregnant women;
  
• diabetics;
• patients with obesity;
• persons suffering from alcoholism.

The causes of increased ALT

Elevated ALT levels in the blood of women, men and children is not a disease - it is just an indicator that cells visceral mass began to die, or there is another source (internal or external) enzyme. This phenomenon is not always indicative of disease - for objective conclusions need integrated laboratory and clinical studies and the comparison of their results.

The natural causes of high blood ALT levels are:

• pregnancy;
• under the age of 17 years: the children of the enzyme level is unstable, and in infants aged six months, much higher than the "adult" rate;
• high physical and emotional stress, which lead to a temporary change in the enzyme concentration in blood;
• ALT excess may enter the body from the outside, together with food (in animal tissue are also present both types of enzymes), or with drugs.

Also there are a number of factors which, acting on the body for a long time, can cause diseases of the internal organs and as a consequence, increase the concentration of ALT.

These include:

• immoderate consumption BAA-s;
• excessive love of fast vudam;

  

• uncontrolled reception dosage forms, in particular, paracetamol;
• too much fat, smoked, acute in the diet;
• Systematic consumption of strong drink;
• smoking;
• overweight.

The main cause of the increase of ALT are various pathologies causing massive cell death - liver disease, pancreas, heart.

Namely:

• hepatitis;
• pancreatitis;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• preeclampsia;
• cancers, giving metastasis in the liver;
• myocardial infarction;

Elevated ALT levels in the blood of women and men can be a direct consequence of the internal organs injuries, burns, muscular dystrophy.

And minor abnormalities

Not every deviation from the ideal level of ALT is a pathology. For example, a three-fold excess concentration of the enzyme is considered the norm.

Such changes are possible after:

• abundant feast;
• intensive training;
• severe emotional distress;
• alcohol consumption.

The increase in level 3-19 times classified as moderately increased. When a satisfactory condition of the patient after the doctor biochemical examination, usually assigns a gentle treatment, advising eliminate harmful factors specified above and to use for the normalization of enzyme levels by means of national medicine.

However, to completely ignore elevated ALT can not be: it can indicate the beginning of the disease or its transition to the chronic form.

Pathology that requires serious treatment, is considered to be the concentration of ALT in 20 or more times the normal levels. Such high levels of the enzyme indicate that liver cells actively destroyed.

When elevated ALT levels in pregnant women

It is believed that pregnancy should not affect the level of ALT. However, at the very beginning of the slight (2-3 units) abnormalities upward enzyme concentration associated with changes in hormonal levels, in particular, increasing levels of the female hormone - estrogen. Usually, other symptoms suggestive of trouble, with no.

Also minor jumps enzyme levels are possible in the 3rd term: its cause - late toxicosis. Elevated ALT levels in the blood of women in late pregnancy may indicate the development of preeclampsia pregnant - non-inflammatory diseases, caused by excessive accumulation of fat in gipatotsitah - liver cells. Preeclampsia is dangerous for the woman and the unborn child.

Enhancement of AST may be the body's response to certain medications (even if reception is enabled during pregnancy).

Similar effects have:

• hormones that prevent pregnancy termination;
• antibiotics;
• agents used to combat cramps and fungal infections;
• diuretic.

symptoms

To obtain an objective picture of the state of the patient's physician requires not only data on the level of ALT: extra gives information AST concentration, the ratio of AST / ALT (de Ritis coefficient), other indicators biochemical analysis blood. The correct diagnosis will help the list of symptoms suggestive of pathology of an organ.

When the liver is damaged

In viral hepatitis, hepatosis, cirrhosis, increases not only the ALT level (approximately 30-50 times), but also has the following features:

• mile swollen limbs and ascites - fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity;
• violations of the chair, diarrhea, nausea;
• asthenia (rapid weight loss);
• pain on the right side in the hypochondrium;
• food intolerances and fatty alcohol;
• slight temperature increase (up to 37-37,5 ° C);
• yellowness;
• dark urine;
• frequent headaches.

With extensive lesions of the liver: necrosis and cirrhosis of the later stages, alaninaminotrasferaza practically not synthesized, so the enzyme levels in the blood can be lowered.

If damaged pancreas

For this group of diseases that cause elevated liver enzymes include:

• pancreatitis (acute and chronic);
• pancreatic;
• cystic fibrosis;
• diabetes.

On the data indicates pathology:

• nausea, vomiting;
• pain in the upper abdomen, aggravated by abuse of diet (pancreatitis);
• diarrhea;
• thirst, frequent urination, itching (diabetes).

When heart problems

Biochemical analysis of ALT levels can indicate a developing myocardial infarction, because in this state there is a death of heart tissue.

Other symptoms include:

• strong cutting paroxysmal pain in the left side of the chest, extending to the arm and neck;
• dyspnea;
• disruptions of cardiac rhythm;
• weakness, sweating;
• pale skin.

When heart problems more informative indicator of AST, since this enzyme prevails in the myocardium, while ALT contained mainly in the liver. Myocardial leads to an increase in AST 10-20.

With obesity

Obesity itself does not affect the level of ALT, but is one of the main causes of the disease mentioned above - gepatoza. Obesity The main symptom is obvious - a large overweight. On obesity say when mass index (ratio of weight to the square of the human growth) exceeds a value of 30 kg / m².

There are other symptoms:

• dyspnea;
  
• fast fatiguability;
• high blood pressure;
• gastrointestinal problems (constipation);
• pain in the joints.

Proper blood sampling

When biochemical studies assessed the number of AST in serum. That analysis was the most informative, you must properly prepare for it and to organize blood sampling correctly. From the patient, which is to biochemical analysis of blood ALT, you want to exclude, as far as possible, factors that could distort the result.

I.e:

1. Fully refuse to accept food for 8-14 hours prior to delivery of the analysis. It is allowed only the use of clean drinking water.
2. All this time, avoid taking alcoholic beverages.
3. Try not to smoke for 4-5 hours before blood sampling.
4. For 1 h prior to the procedure, to refrain from vigorous physical work and high emotional stress.
5. Immediately before the delivery of the analysis did not perform any physical therapy treatments and research: X-ray, fluoroscopy, ultrasound.
6. It is desirable for several days prior to blood donation, to refuse to accept any medicines, if this is not possible, consult with your doctor.

Blood is taken in the morning hours from a vein or from a finger, the result is ready the next day, in the case of emergency - after 2 h. Decryption is performed by a qualified physician. To get a complete picture, biochemistry data are supplemented with the results of other, conducted earlier research.

Unacceptably long storage of blood taken for analysis, because the decay of erythrocytes, wherein the content of ALT above, leads to penetration of the enzyme into serum and distort results.

Coefficient de Rytis

For a more precise determination of the activity of enzymes in the medical practice, taking into account not only the absolute values ​​of AST and ALT, but also their ratio: AST / ALT, called coefficient de Rytis (named after the Italian scientist Fernando de Rytis, first proposed this method Diagnostics).

Because these enzymes are concentrated in various organs, the coefficient de Rytis allows you to quickly identify the affected area.

For example:

• normal factor is 1.3 + 0.43 (ALT and AST indicators - normal);
• reduction coefficient to values ​​less than 1 indicates relatively light-induced liver injury, not interfering synthesis enzyme (amount increases in ALT, AST and the number remains approximately the same level);
• if the ratio is greater than 2, indicating myocardial infarction (AST amount increases, and practically does not change the concentration of ALT);
• values ​​greater than 1 may be evidence of severe liver pathologies in which it is no longer able to produce the enzyme. In this case, index ALT is low.

medication treatment

Elevated ALT levels in the blood of women, men and children to heal itself is meaningless, since this indicator is a marker for some diseases. Therefore, an adequate treatment of the underlying disease and the elimination of factors that have become the cause.

In addition, the patient may be prescribed a means to accelerate recovery gipatotsitov:

drug type	preparations	Description
corticosteroids	hydrocortisone; Prednisolone; fludrocortisone.	Drugs that decrease the activity of the immune system and thereby reduce inflammation, preventing the regeneration of liver tissue. Prescribed for inflammatory diseases.
antiviral	entecavir; sofosbuvir; telaprevir.	Assigned hepatitis and other viral diseases. Eliminating the infection, allow the liver to recover faster.
a group of interferons	altevir; Interferon human leukocyte; leyfferon.	Strengthen the immune system to fight foreign substances, used in diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, as well as in a variety of tumors.
Herbal	silymarin; silibinin glycyrrhizic acid.	Cleansing the liver to help it break down fats, preventing further damage gipatotsitov.

How to reduce ALT levels folk remedies

For mild deviations from normal ALT levels will come to the aid of traditional medicine. After consultation specialist, its methods can also be used as an adjunct to medical treatment at the more complex cases, allowing you to quickly deal with the problem.

Gathering herbs for liver diseases

Ability to restore liver cells have the thistle, calendula, chicory root, mountain ash juice, horseradish.

The following recipes you can try:

• to strengthen the liver: 1 tbsp. l. immortelle pour 250 g of boiling water, after cooling drain, bring the volume to 300 ml by adding water. Taken before meals 3 times a day for half a glass;
• for the normalization of the liver: Shredded root knotweed (1 tbsp. l.) pour 1 tbsp. warm water, warm for half an hour on a water bath, filter. Take 100 g twice daily;
• liver recovery: Chop greens dioica nettle (1 tbsp. l.) pour cup of boiling water, taking up 100 g meals 3 times daily.

The infusion of Adonis in cardiac pathologies

Substances contained in adonis (Adonis), are able to normalize heart rhythm, strengthen it and prevent the destruction of myocardial tissue. To achieve therapeutic effect goritsveta infusion prepared from 6 g of grass and 200 mL of boiling water should be taken daily for 1 st. l. three times a day regardless of the meal.

following herbal tea can be used to treat heart abnormalities (dry herbs taken in equal parts):

• Adonis;
• motherwort;
• Melissa;
• marigold flowers;
• the color of clover;
• white shoots of mistletoe;
• horsetail.

10 g collection pour cup of cold water, via daily boil and cool. Take half a cup after meals three times a day.

There are drugs on the basis of Adonis:

• adonizid;
• Adonis extract;
• tablets "Adonis Brom."

Decoction of milk thistle

Milk thistle is widely used in gastroenterology and cardiology, has beneficial effects on the liver and the heart and helps to restore the normal balance of enzymes AST and ALT in blood.

To prepare the broth will need 30 g of crushed fruit plants and ½ liter of warm water. Pour fruit and boil them on low heat until until half of the liquid has evaporated, then cool and filter. Take 100 ml of a 3 p a day 20 minutes before meal.

Tincture of dandelion flowers

Dandelion helps:

• to get rid of stones in the liver;
• clear the body of toxins;
• cope with hepatitis and cholecystitis.

Hepatitis can try the old recipe: daily pluck 4-5 plants, thoroughly wash them, remove the flower and eat a stalk with leaves. If the taste is too unpleasant, you can add dandelion salad of cucumber, dill, vegetable oil. The course of treatment - 2 weeks.

In inflammatory diseases of the liver and severe pain will help a decoction of the dandelion: 2 tbsp. l. chopped fresh flowers (1 tbsp. l. Dried) filled with 500 ml of cold water, brought to a boil and then is cooled and filtered. Taken in the morning on an empty stomach 100 ml and 50 ml in the evening. The course of treatment - 10 days.

The infusion of corn silk

Corn silk have a pronounced anti-inflammatory action, stimulate output toxins, normalize lipid metabolism, improve the flow of bile. a huge number of substances present in their composition, have a positive effect on the liver, allowing it to successfully fight diseases.

To prepare you need 2 tbsp. l. pour spout 200 ml of boiled water, about 1 hour (preferably in a thermos). Take half a cup 3 times a day, the course - 3 days.

Diet

Efforts aimed at the normalization of ALT levels and treat diseases caused by its increase may be ineffective if you do not stick to a diet that facilitates the work of the liver and contributes to its regeneration.

The diet should be:

• Present plant foods rich in antioxidants, minerals, vitamins. Preference is given to fresh vegetables and fruits that have not passed the heat treatment. They can complement the low-fat fermented milk products, lean meat, nuts, cereals, cooked whole grain.
• Absent severe liver for foods high in fat: food cooked by frying or smoked meat fat, tallow, butter, store bakery products (almost every one of them there is palm oil - a product very difficult to processing).
  
• It is impossible to completely exclude fats, as they are required by the body. It should only limit their consumption, preferring vegetable fats, easier to digest.
• It is possible to avoid salt as salt, delaying fluid in the body, hinders the liver. Banned bouillon cubes, soy sauce, pickled vegetables, salted fish. Undesirable as the use of baking soda for baking, because it has a similar effect.
• We have to unconditionally waive any and all types of alcoholic beverages (including beer), as they create unreasonable burden on the liver, causing it to filter the huge amount of alcohol contained in toxins. For the same reason, it needs to give up smoking.

Another ingredient of success - a healthy lifestyle, moderate exercise, adequate exposure to fresh air, good sleep, good mood.

All these factors have a direct impact on ALT levels in the blood of men, women and children, however, struggling with being overweight, strengthening the body and helping him get rid of the toxins that create the necessary conditions for its change from high to low or normal.

Registration of the article: Lozinski Oleg

Video of elevated ALT levels in the blood of women

Norma ALT and AST in the blood, decoding of analyzes: