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Previous Volume 342:1266-1271 April 27, 2000 Number 17 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Now that routine laboratory testing is automated and is frequently part of an annual checkup, physicians are often faced with the problem of a patient with one abnormal result on measurement of serum aminotransferases or alkaline phosphatase but no symptoms. Many batteries of screening tests now include measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and -glutamyltransferase. Although these enzymes are present in tissues throughout the body, they are most often elevated in patients with liver disease and may reflect liver injury.

The first step in the evaluation of a patient with elevated liver-enzyme levels but no symptoms is . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Aminotransferase Levels

Causes of Elevated Aminotransferase Levels

Alcohol Abuse

Medication

Chronic Hepatitis

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Hepatic Steatosis and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Hemochromatosis

Wilson's Disease

Alpha₁-Antitrypsin Deficiency

Nonhepatic Causes

Causes of Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase Levels

Causes of Elevated -Glutamyltransferase Levels

Source Information

From New England Medical Center, Box 217, 750 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Pratt.

References

Related Letters:

Elevated Liver Enzymes in Asymptomatic Patients
Blanc P. D., Redlich C. A., Sibille M., Durieu I., Durand D. V., Wallis K., Price S., Gorard D. A., Linkner E. J., Froom P., Froom J., Pratt D. S., Kaplan M. M.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 2000; 343:662-663, Aug 31, 2000. Correspondence

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