ALT and AST ?

[TemoDubai]

Hallo friends,

My ALT is higher than my AST but both are within the normal limits. I have read that the ALT must be less than AST. have any of you any idea about that ? Thanks alot

[gillianTS]

The reference ranges for both are different, ALT is higher. You do not state what range you are or the reference ranges used for your test.

All of my husbands ALT results are higher than his AST, both within the normal reference range.

[TemoDubai in reply to gillianTS]

Thank you for ur answer ? So, did ur Husband had liver Cirrhosis or not ? if yes that confirmed my opinion.

[gillianTS in reply to TemoDubai]

No he does not have/had liver cirrhosis.

Not sure what you are trying to find answers to. If you have cirrhosis or another liver condition then people might be able to provide a better response.

[gillianTS]

It is only when the magnitude of ALT and AST is above a certain threshold that the ratio can be considered diagnostic and this is when it is outside of the tests reference ranges.

It depends on which value (ALT / AST) is elevated and the extent of that elevation, specialists can often get a pretty good indication as to what disease is involved, but again this is Only when these enzymes are outside of the reference ranges.

[TemoDubai in reply to gillianTS]

I found this report: and really make me Crazy but it seems it is right.

in liver fibrosis, the AST:ALT ratio is especially useful because it can identify fibrosis even when both AST and ALT are within normal lab range. When the AST:ALT ratio rises above 1, fibrosis can be suspected, indicating that all is not normal

[gillianTS in reply to TemoDubai]

Yes but have you read the reasoning behind why they use ALT and AST ratio's in the first place, understanding why someone has had a blood test and a doctor interpreting the results is based upon the entire blood test. Checking for a possible liver condition in the first place is not just based upon a blood test, an examination is called for and if a patient feels ill regardless of a liver function test result returning a normal result then further tests can be called for.

AST levels are indicative of a tissue injury, it is not specific to the liver.

ALT is found primarily in the liver. Elevations of the ALT is a direct indication of a liver injury, whether minor or severe, but occasionally increases may also occur when associated in a short term infection/illness.

ALT/AST ratio's are not simply a answer to a liver issue. What is required is a specialist to answer your questions and an examination should a liver issue be suspected in conjunction with blood and other tests.

[TemoDubai in reply to gillianTS]

Thank you so much. I hope that I do not have any kind of liver fibrosis as all my Blood test withen the normal range. But the last Two Blood test I figured out that the ratio for my Ast/Alt is higher than 1. despite both are in normal range.

[gillianTS in reply to TemoDubai]

You should try and be assured by your test results but more importantly how you are feeling, if in any doubt you need to get checked over and take advice from a doctor who can help and satisfy any niggling issues you feel you have.

[TemoDubai in reply to gillianTS]

It seems I must visit a doctor and talk with him about Ast/Alt