Alt/ast

Could be a tumor.

ALT (alanine aminotransferase) [formerly called SGPT (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase)]:

Is done to determine if there is liver damage. It will be elevated in the following conditions:

• hepatitis
  
• hepatic necrosis
  
• hepatic ischemia
  
• cirrhosis
  
• cholestasis
  
• a hepatic tumor
  
• presence of hepatotoxic drugs
  
• obstructive jaundice

You can find information on this blood test at:

• http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alt/glance.html
  
• http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/ALT.htm?once=true
  
• http://www.medicinenet.com/liver_blood_tests/article.htm
  
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003473.htm

AST (aspartate aminotransferase) [formerly called SGOT (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase)]:

Is done to determine if there is hepatocellular disease or coronary occlusive disease. AST is release when cells lyse (break open). It will be increased in the following conditions:

• Liver diseases:
  • hepatitis
    
  • hepatic cirrhosis
    
  • drug-induced liver injury
    
  • hepatic metastasis
    
  • nepatic necrosis (intial stages only)
    
  • hepatic surgery
    
  • Infectious monomucleosis with hepatitis
    
  • hepatic infiltrative process (e.g., tumor)

  [*]Heart diseases:

  • myocardial infarctgion
    
  • cardiac operations
    
  • cardiac catherization and angioplasty

  [*]Skeletal muscle diseases

  • skeletal muscle trauma
    
  • recent noncardiac surgery
    
  • multiple traumas
    
  • sever, deep burns
    
  • progressive muscular dystrophy
    
  • recent convulsions
    
  • heat stroke
    
  • primary muscle diseases (e.g., myopathy, myositis)

  [*]Other diseases

  • acute hemolytic anemia
    
  • acute pancreatitis

You can find information on this blood test at:

• http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ast/glance.html
  
• http://adam.about.com/encyclopedia/AST.htm?once=true
  
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003472.htm