title: Alanine aminotransferase in clinical practice. A review.
abstract: Alanine aminotransferase is an enzyme produced mainly in the liver. When serum activity is measured, it provides a marker of hepatic disease. This review explores the biochemistry and laboratory analysis of alanine aminotransferase in terms of its significance in human health and disease. Cut-off levels that define abnormality are rather arbitrary and this decreases the specificity of the test in apparently healthy patients. A small, but important, group of patients with alanine aminotransferase abnormality have underlying liver disease that may be treatable. Most can be diagnosed based on history, physical examination, and biochemical-serological profiles. Liver biopsy can complement the diagnostic process in selected circumstances. Literature pertaining to this is critically reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Service, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colo. 80045.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase