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All the patient's medications, including over-the-counter drugs (OTC, and herbal remedies. The most important step in evaluating patients with abnormal liver enzyme levels is to take a thorough medical history and perform a complete medical examination. What Tests and Procedures Diagnose the Causes of Abnormal Levels of Liver Enzymes? Some seizure medications, for example, phenytoin ( Dilantin), carbamazepine ( Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Equetro, Carbatrol), and valproic acid ( Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon).Some psychiatric medications, for example, tricyclic antidepressants.Some anti-fungal medications, for example, fluconazole ( Diflucan) and itraconazole ( Sporanox).Some tuberculosis medications, for example, isoniazid (Nydrazid, Laniazid, INH).Some antibiotics, for example, sulfonamides and nitrofurantoin ( Macrodantin Furadantin Macrobid).Cholesterol-lowering medications, statins, for example, atorvastatin ( Lipitor) and simvastatin ( Zocor).Some pain medications, for example, diclofenac ( Voltaren) and naproxen ( Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan).Acetaminophen (Tylenol or other medications with a Tylenol component, such as Vicodin).Intentional medication overdose, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol liver damage).The common medications with potential liver toxicity include pain relief medications. SLIDESHOW Hepatitis: How Do You Get Hepatitis A, B, and C? See Slideshow They can also be severely elevated, possibly up to 10 to 20 times the normal values, suggesting more significant damage to the liver.In some conditions the elevation could be mild, consistent with a mild injury or inflammation of the liver.In addition to the duration, the level of abnormal elevation of the aminotransferases is also significant.These levels may be elevated acutely (short term) indicating sudden injury to the liver, or they may be elevated chronically (long term) suggesting ongoing liver injury.What Are Elevated (High) Levels of AST and ALT?Įlevated levels of liver enzymes in general signify some form of liver (or hepatic) damage or injury. In some conditions, these enzymes can be severely elevated, in the 1000s range.Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than the normal range.Typically the range for normal AST is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter and ALT between 7 to 56 units per liter.Normal levels of AST and ALT may slightly vary depending on the individual laboratory's reference values.
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What Are Normal and Elevated (High) Levels of AST and ALT? What Are Normal Levels of AST and ALT? Many drugs may cause elevated blood levels of AST, and ALT and some medications can cause severe damage, for example, acetaminophen ( Tylenol). What Diseases and Drugs Cause Elevated Liver Enzymes?Ĭommon causes of elevated ALT and AST areĬommon causes of abnormal AST and ALT levels are wide-ranging (for example, toxins, and autoimmune diseases). Elevated levels of AST and ALT may signify the level of liver damage in a person. The interpretation of elevated AST and ALT results depends upon the entire clinical evaluation of an individual, and so it is best done by physicians experienced in evaluating liver disease and muscle disease.Normal levels of AST (SGOT) is about 5-40 units/liter of serum.Normal levels of ALT (SGPT) ranges from about 7-56 units/liter of serum (the liquid part of the blood),.Common causes of elevated ALT and AST are viral liver infections, alcohol abuse, cirrhosis (from any chronic causes), and more.
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