SGOT & SGPT

SGPT stands for Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase or

also called ALT (alanin aminotransferase). ALT catalyzes the
transfer of amino group of alanine to α-ketoglutarate, resulting
in formation or pyruvate and glutamate. The reaction is readily
reversible.

SGOT stands for Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase or

also called AST (aspartate aminotransferase). AST catalyzes
the transfer of amino group of glutamate to oxaloacetate,
forming aspartate (source of nitrogen in urea cycle). AST
reaction is reversible.

SGOT can be found in some organs, such as liver, blood cells,

heart, brain, and muscle. It’s released intro the serum when any
one of these tissues is damaged. Because of that, high SGOT
doesn’t only mean disorder in hepatocytes. Because of that, we
need to check SGPT (largely in liver) as well, when both
enzymes increase, it has been sure that there is liver disorder.

Normal Value
SGOT : 5-40 u/L (micro per liter).
SGPT : 7-56 u/L (micro per liter).

In some cases, patients with chronic liver disorder sometimes show normal range of SGOT &
SGPT. This condition is often found in patients with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. In
chronic liver disease, hepatocytes are impairing slowly so the increasing range of SGOT &
SGPT isn’t seemed significant or even in normal range.

Some diseases or medic conditions which can make SGOT & SGPT increase:
1. Hepatitis
The range of SGOT & SGPT can reach 5 to 10 fold of normal range along with increased
bilirubin, decreased albumin, and other indicators.
2. Fatty Liver
Damaged hepatocytes are replaced by adipocytes. The range of SGOT & SGPT can increase
until approximately 2 to 3 fold of normal range. Fatty liver often happen to fat patients with
symptoms: unwell in right upper abdomen, but some don’t feel any symptoms.
3. Bile Blockage
Bile produced by liver will flow to gall bladder. When there is blockage in flow of bile to
gallbladder, liver will be ‘sink’ of bile and it will poison the hepatocytes. Damaged
hepatocytes will make SGOT & SGPT increase in blood flow, approximately 4 fold of normal
range.
4. Less common causes of elevated AST & ALT
a. Celiac Disease (celiac sprue)
 A disease of small intestine where a person has an allergy to gluten and develops gas.
Bloating, diarrhea, and in advanced cases malnutrition.
b. Chron’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
 Diseases with chronic inflammation of intestines (refer to inflammatory bowel
diseases). Inflammation of liver (hepatitis) or bile ducts (primary sclerosing
cholangitis) also can occur, causing abnormal liver tests.
c. Viral Infection other than common hepatitis viruses
 Generalized body infection and liver inflammation
d. Non-viral Infections of Liver (rare)
 Can cause liver damage. Bacterial and amebic hepatic abscesses typically present as
focal infection and inflammaion of liver.
e. Liver Cancer (rare)
 Hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatoma. This condition can happen because of
metastatic malignancies.
f. Budd-Chiari Syndrome (rare)
 Obstruction of blood flow in liver by a blood clot can damage the liver.
g. Glycogen Storage Disorders
 Genetic conditions seen in pediatric population.

Some medications can cause increased liver enzyme tests (AST & ALT) levels:
 Pain relief medications (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac,
phenylbultazone)
 Anti-seizure medications (phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, phenobarbital)
 Antibiotics (tetracyclibes, sulfonamides, isoniazid, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim,
nitrofuratoin, fluconazole)
 Cholesterol lowering drugs (lovastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin,
rosuvastatin, niacin)
 Cardiovascular drugs (amiodarone, hydralazine, quinidine)
 Antidepressant drugs of the tricyclic type