Elevated liver enzymes often are a sign of inflamed or damaged cells in the liver. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher levels of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals include liver enzymes that may appear higher than usual on blood tests.
The most common elevated liver enzymes are:
- Alanine transaminase (ALT).
- Aspartate transaminase (AST).
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
- Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT).
Elevated liver enzymes might be found during routine blood testing. In most cases, liver enzymes are only mildly raised for a short time. This usually doesn't signal a chronic, serious liver problem.
Many diseases, medications and conditions can cause elevated liver enzymes. Your healthcare team will review your medicines and symptoms and sometimes prescribe other tests and procedures to find the cause.
If a blood test shows that you have elevated liver enzymes, ask your healthcare team what the results might mean. You may have other tests and procedures to find the cause of the elevated liver enzymes.
Show References
- Friedman LS. Approach to the patient with abnormal liver and biochemical function tests. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- Liver panel. Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/liver-panel. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- GGT blood test. Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/gamma-glutamyl-transferase-ggt. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test. Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/aspartate-aminotransferase-ast. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/alanine-aminotransferase-alt. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test. Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/alkaline-phosphatase-alp. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test. Testing.com. https://www.testing.com/tests/lactate-dehydrogenase-ldh. Accessed Jan. 5, 2024.
- Kalas MA, et al. Abnormal liver enzymes: A review for clinicians. World Journal of Hepatology. 2021; doi:10.4254/wjh.v13.i11.1688.
- Burt A, et al., eds. Liver in systemic disease. In: MacSween's Pathology of the Liver, 8th ed. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan 5, 2022.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 6, 2024.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/elevated-liver-enzymes/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050830