What is Transaminase?
Transaminase is a common enzyme in the human body, and it plays an important role in the liver. It is also an important indicator of liver health. Elevated transaminase levels may indicate decreased liver function or even severe liver disease. Therefore, transaminase tests are often performed when liver problems are suspected. Let's briefly understand what transaminase is.
Transaminase is a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of amino groups between amino acids and keto acids. They are ubiquitous in animals, plant tissues, and microorganisms, with high concentrations found in animal tissues such as the myocardium, brain, liver, and kidneys, as well as in mung bean sprouts. Transaminase is an essential "catalyst" for the normal operation of the liver, which can be regarded as a "barometer" of liver health. Hepatocytes are the main habitat of transaminase. When hepatocytes are damaged due to inflammation, poisoning, necrosis, etc., transaminase is released into the blood, resulting in elevated serum transaminase levels.
The normal range of transaminase is 0-37 units per liter. Elevated levels can be observed in various liver diseases, early myocardial infarction, necrotic liver lesions, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The normal value of alanine aminotransferase (GPT) is 0-40 units per liter. Abnormal elevations can be seen in hepatitis, drug poisoning, obstructive jaundice, liver degeneration, sclerosing cholangitis, and cholangiocarcinoma. The ratio of GPT to aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is usually 1.5 to 2.5:1. A ratio less than 1 is called inversion and is one of the characteristics of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Normal transaminase levels range from 0 to 40. A level of 200 is considered moderate elevation. However, this can be due to both pathological and non-pathological factors. Vigorous exercise, excessive fatigue, consumption of greasy food before testing, pregnancy, nutritional deficiency, and drug effects can all cause elevations in transaminase levels. Therefore, it is important to identify the underlying cause before treating.
