SGOT and SGPT tests

[roger101]

I have an SGOT of 15 and an SGPT of 56. How bad is this?

[NanLaew]

Your liver's carked it. Stop buggering about here and go see a specialist.

[roger101]

I did I'm just asking for more information.

[NanLaew]

7 minutes ago, roger101 said:

I did I'm just asking for more information.

 

Like what? How much beer is OK if you just 'cut back'?

[roger101]

Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I don't need comments like this. I know it could be serious.  I am already giving up alcohol. I used to drink roughly the same amount every day and have done for years. My last blood test (the same over the years) showed normal levels of SGOT and SGPT (4 months ago).  I have a blood test every 4 months and over the years it has given me nothing to worry about. This time it showed a level of SGPT that wasn't there 4  months ago. So i'm just asking for more information.

[Sheryl]

SGOT (more commonly called AST these days) of 15 is perfectly normal.

 

SGPT (more commonly called ALT) is at the very upper limit of normal. (Depending on the lab, some might use a reference range that makes this an elevated finding)

 

The  AST:ALT ratio could be  suggestive of non-alcoholic fatty liver. While that may sound scary it is actually extremely common and often due to being overweight.

 

You certainly do not have severe liver disease with these values.

 

Another thing that can elevate ALT is certain medications.

 

 

[mstevens]

It's not that bad, but then it's not good either.

 

If you drink alcohol, take a break from it for a few months. Ditto soft-drinks.

 

Lower your fruit consumption, especially fruits particularly high in fructose.

 

Lower your consumption of processed carbohydrates (pasta, bread, cakes, muffins etc).

 

Feel free to eat lots of good quality meat, cruciferous vegetables, healthy fats.

 

Within a few months you should see improvements. If you follow these suggestions, I'd retest in 3-4 months time and see how the levels look then.

Edited February 16 by mstevens

[Tazmo]

If you’re taking Statins ( to lower cholesterol) this could be one reason for elevated levels!

[kingstonkid]

9 hours ago, mstevens said:

It's not that bad, but then it's not good either.

 

If you drink alcohol, take a break from it for a few months. Ditto soft-drinks.

 

Lower your fruit consumption, especially fruits particularly high in fructose.

 

Lower your consumption of processed carbohydrates (pasta, bread, cakes, muffins etc).

 

Feel free to eat lots of good quality meat, cruciferous vegetables, healthy fats.

 

Within a few months you should see improvements. If you follow these suggestions, I'd retest in 3-4 months time and see how the levels look then.

 

Did you get the test done at a big hospital or at a government hospital?  

 

The reason I ask is that if it was me, I would be asking the doctor to see a dietician or specialist who can recommend treatment and diet choices.

 

The last place I would be looking for medical assistance is here.  Some people may have ideas, but last time I checked, there were not a whole lot of registered doctors here.   

[Sheryl]

57 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 

Did you get the test done at a big hospital or at a government hospital?  

 

The reason I ask is that if it was me, I would be asking the doctor to see a dietician or specialist who can recommend treatment and diet choices.

 

The last place I would be looking for medical assistance is here.  Some people may have ideas, but last time I checked, there were not a whole lot of registered doctors here.   

He may have gotten it done at a lab.

 

Since results are in normal range (though at very upper end of normal for the SGPT/ALT) hardly any reason to see a dietician or spercialist.

 

If he is overweight, addressing that (diet, exercise) would be wise in any case.

 

@roger101 did you by any chance take an antihistamine or other medication in the 24-48 hours before the blood test? As this will cause mild transient elevations.

 

I assume the reference range shown in your lab report must have had a lower cutoff than 56 for the SGPT? In Thailand they often use lower than internationally normal cut offs for liver enzymes. Usual normal range for this enzyme is 7 - 56.  At most you have only a very, very slight elevation which could easily be explained by being overweight or by medication.

 

 

 

 

[FarangRimPing]

On occasion years ago, I would have really bad test results. Later on, I realized a correlation between my taking NSAIDs (Ibprofen) within a couple of days of the blood test. Once I noticed the correlation, I stopped taking them several days before a blood test was scheduled. After that, I've never had bad test levels.

 

Before I found this out, I had 'next step' tests, such as ultrasound, and those results were good.

[roger101]

17 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

He may have gotten it done at a lab.

 

Since results are in normal range (though at very upper end of normal for the SGPT/ALT) hardly any reason to see a dietician or spercialist.

 

If he is overweight, addressing that (diet, exercise) would be wise in any case.

 

@roger101 did you by any chance take an antihistamine or other medication in the 24-48 hours before the blood test? As this will cause mild transient elevations.

 

I assume the reference range shown in your lab report must have had a lower cutoff than 56 for the SGPT? In Thailand they often use lower than internationally normal cut offs for liver enzymes. Usual normal range for this enzyme is 7 - 56.  At most you have only a very, very slight elevation which could easily be explained by being overweight or by medication.

 

 

 

 

Thank you Sheryl. That is reassuring. I had the blood test done at Life Care and took my results to BPH to my heart specialist who sent me to the Liver Center. I have noticed before that some of the ranges quoted in the report differed from what I read on the internet.

[kingstonkid]

On 2/17/2024 at 1:35 PM, Sheryl said:

He may have gotten it done at a lab.

 

Since results are in normal range (though at very upper end of normal for the SGPT/ALT) hardly any reason to see a dietician or spercialist.

 

If he is overweight, addressing that (diet, exercise) would be wise in any case.

 

@roger101 did you by any chance take an antihistamine or other medication in the 24-48 hours before the blood test? As this will cause mild transient elevations.

 

I assume the reference range shown in your lab report must have had a lower cutoff than 56 for the SGPT? In Thailand they often use lower than internationally normal cut offs for liver enzymes. Usual normal range for this enzyme is 7 - 56.  At most you have only a very, very slight elevation which could easily be explained by being overweight or by medication.

 

 

 

 

 

If he is in the high range then seeing a specialist and getting retested will reolve if there is an issue.  It does not hurt to find out things about your diet or lifestyle that may be a cause.

 

That way, the OP knows what may be a problem in the future.

 

Preventative medicine is always better.

[roger101]

Since that test, I have had 2 more AST and ALT tests. Both show absolutely normal readings (14 and 23 and then 18 and 23). I am thinking of cancelling my appointment at the Liver Centre.

They only sent me there because my ALT was 56. Blood tests and a Fibroscan are involved (don't ask me what that is). Any views on what I should do?

I don't want to waste money on unnecessary tests if they are not needed.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, roger101 said:

Since that test, I have had 2 more AST and ALT tests. Both show absolutely normal readings (14 and 23 and then 18 and 23). I am thinking of cancelling my appointment at the Liver Centre.

They only sent me there because my ALT was 56. Blood tests and a Fibroscan are involved (don't ask me what that is). Any views on what I should do?

I don't want to waste money on unnecessary tests if they are not needed.

I would skip the appointment unless there are other symptoms (such as jaundice).  Your prior reading was barely above the normal range and readings since are completely normal.

 

An isolated reading at or slightly past upper end of normal range is really nothing to worry about.

 

Simply taking an antihistamine (or many other meds) can account for this.

 

 

 

 

[roger101]

34 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

I would skip the appointment unless there are other symptoms (such as jaundice).  Your prior reading was barely above the normal range and readings since are completely normal.

 

An isolated reading at or slightly past upper end of normal range is really nothing to worry about.

 

Simply taking an antihistamine (or many other meds) can account for this.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Sheryl, I was hoping you would say that. I just wanted confirmation from somebody who is a lot better informed than I am.