alaninaminotransferáz

Alanine aminotransferase, often abbreviated as ALT, is an enzyme found primarily in the liver. Its main function is to catalyze the transfer of an amino group from alanine to alpha-ketoglutarate, producing pyruvate and glutamate. This reaction is a crucial part of amino acid metabolism. ALT is also present in other tissues, including the kidneys, heart, and muscles, but at significantly lower concentrations.

Measuring ALT levels in the blood is a common diagnostic tool in medicine. Elevated ALT levels in serum are often indicative of liver damage or inflammation. Various conditions can lead to increased ALT, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and drug-induced liver injury. The degree of elevation can sometimes correlate with the severity of the liver insult, although this is not always the case.

ALT is also known as serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) in older literature. Along with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), another liver enzyme, ALT is a key component of liver function tests. When interpreting ALT levels, healthcare professionals consider them in conjunction with other laboratory results and the patient's clinical presentation to make an accurate diagnosis.