Question

Explain why a combined analysis of plasma glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase desirable for diagnosing hepatitis in a patient?

Answer 1

Answer: Hepatitis is basically disease of liver disfunction. so for the testing or for diagnosis of hepatitis in a patient the specific test for liver must be performed. In the testing we basically determine the level of enzymes activity to determine the cause of disease.

As liver consists of various enzymes as

ALT (SGPT): Alanine aminotransferase is an enzyme which is specific enzyme for liver so if we have to diagnose the liver function we focus on this test. If liver damage occur then ALT % is high.

AST(SGOT): Aspartate Aminotransferase is an enzyme which is related to various parts along with liver as skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, brain as well as in RBC. so it is not specific for liver only.

ALP: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is present in many tissues including hepatobiliary, bone, pancreas, kidney as well as gastrointestinal tract.so we can not use it as specific test for liver.

GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase it is specific for liver only that is it is predominantly present in hepatobiliary system. So if the level of GGT is high then the disease is surely related to liver.

So by the above explanation we can say that as ALT and GGT are specific for liver test so we can use both in case of hepatitis in a patient as it is liver related disease.