transaminases

Posted By FB on January 22, 1999 at 20:46:58:







In chronic hepatitis and other liver disorders, ALT and AST values seem to
fluctuate over many years, sometimes even to normal with one
blood test, then back up again with another and back and so on.
I know the value of the enzymes do not correlate well with
severity of damage, but my question is what is the relation
between the blood test results and the *timing* of damage.
That is, are the values elevated *after* inflammation/injury
to the liver has taken place - and if so how long after - or simultaneous
with injury, or perhaps oddly, detectable in blood even
before injury?
Thanks much.