ALT LEVELS

I had some blood work perfomed on 08/01/08 and I was told that my ALT is 158. Can you explain/tell me what is the norma ALT level, and if my level is too high what can I do to control it

[mikesimon]

Normal range on Quest diagnostics is 9 - 60.
If you drink a lot of alcohol quitting may improve your ALT. If it is due to something else - hepatitis c or b, for example, you may need to take medication.
Regardless, you should see a doctor, preferably a gastroenterologist or a hepatologist, who can order blood tests to determine what is causing your enzyme elevation. ALT is a liver enzyme and when it is elevated it reflects the fact that liver cells are dying at a higher than normal rate. The higher the ALT the higher the cell death. 158 is not extremely high, by any means, but it is high enough to warrant further testing.
Mike

[Chritine5150]

I just had a blood test come back with ALT levels at 8000! I am otherwise a healthy 33 year old who exercises moderately. Could this elevation be from the muscle break down instead of the liver?
Christine