My doctor told me that he was giving me a blood test for a liver test, but I don’t quite understand his prescription: gamma GT, transaminases, alkaline phosphatases… What does that correspond to?
Gamma GT or gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase
The value of this enzyme should be less than 55 IU / l for a man and less than 38 IU / l for a woman.
The dosage of this enzyme does not require fasting.
It is good to know that the GT gamma rate is sometimes high in some people for no apparent reason.
But in general, an increase in the level of gamma GT is often due to a chronic alcoholism or at the taking certain medications. An increase in gamma GT also appears in liver cancer, cirrhosis, diabetes, acute hepatitis and even with viral infections such as flu.
The gamma GT assay is the only biological reference retained for the driver’s license return after a penalty for drunk driving.
Transaminases
The analyzes measure the concentration of 2 transaminases: ALAT or alanine-aminotransferase and ASAT or aspartate-aminotransferase.
ALAT must be less than 45 IU / l in humans and less than 34 IU / l in women.
AST should not exceed 35 IU / l in men and women.
This dosage should be performed on an empty stomach for 12 hours.
Decrease in these enzymes is normal in a person on dialysis, but also indicates end-stage liver disease.
The increase in these enzymes appears duringinfectious hepatitis (mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, HIV, varicella-zoster, legionellosis, etc.), viral hepatitis or hepatitis caused by taking medication, blocking the elimination of bile, cirrhosis and all forms of destruction of hepatic cells.
Alkaline phosphatase or PAL
The normal level of these enzymes is between 30 and 100 IU / l.
It is not necessary to be on an empty stomach to perform this assay.
A decrease in these enzymes is found in case ofosteoporosis or in the end stage of hepatic failure.
An increase in these enzymes occurs during the pregnancy, in case of hepatitis, retention of bile by the liver, cirrhosis. The rate is also high in certain bone diseases (Paget’s disease, bone cancers, etc.).
Creatine phosphokinase or CPK
The value of this enzyme should be less than 171 IU / l in humans and to 145 IU / l in women.
The sample is taken on an empty stomach and preferably at rest because CPKs tend to increase with muscular effort: sports activities are therefore avoided in the 48 hours preceding the examination.
Variations in this enzyme can appear between 9 and 24 hours after a heart attack.
