Serum alt; clinical significance of borderline high levels

ABSTRACT

To assess the cases of borderline high serum ALT. To find out underlying pathology causing borderline high serum ALT cases using noninvasive methods, and to evaluate their significance. A total of 30 patients fulfilling the selection criteria were included at convenience. This was an observational study. This study was conducted in PMA hospital Kakul during 2004. The results of the study showed that fatty liver was present in 36.6% of the cases. Hepatitis C infection was detected in 13.4%, while in most of the patients [50%] no specific cause could be detected. On the basis of these observations it was concluded that in patients detected to have borderline high serum ALT on routine evaluation the chances of diagnosing steatohepatitis were more than chronic hepatitis and that the possibility of serious underlying liver disease was uncommon