The liver is perhaps one of the busiest organs in our body. It aids in food digestion, storing vital nutrients, making proteins, and removing toxins from the blood. Due to the numerous vital functions it has, it's crucial to ensure your liver remains healthy—and one of the simplest ways to monitor your liver's health is by conducting an SGPT test.
You might have seen the term "SGPT" in your blood test reports or heard your physician say it while giving you a routine checkup. But what does it signify, and why is it significant? In this blog, we'll discuss all about the SGPT test, normal ranges, causes, and symptoms.
SGPT is an abbreviation of Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase, also referred to as Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT). It is a liver-secreted enzyme. SGPT assists in breaking down proteins and plays a crucial role in fueling the body with energy derived from food.
Normally, SGPT remains within liver cells. But if the liver is damaged or inflamed as a result of disease, infection, or toxicity, the enzyme escapes into the bloodstream. An elevated blood level of SGPT is an indication of damage or impairment of the liver. The SGPT test measures SGPT and informs physicians about the efficiency of your liver and whether there's any underlying damage that requires treatment.
Physicians order an SGPT blood test for a number of reasons, particularly when there are indications of liver damage or when patients have conditions that put pressure on the liver. Some of the most common reasons for your physician to order the test are listed below:
It's also included in a Liver Function Test (LFT) panel, which is a collection of ALT SGPT liver tests that are utilized to assess various enzymes and compounds in the blood in order to achieve an overall impression of how healthy the liver is.
Your ALT SGPT blood test results are expressed as units per liter (U/L) of blood. Your normal reference range may slightly differ from lab to lab, but generally:
An occasional reading slightly above the normal level of SGPT is not a cause for alarm. Recent exercise, some foods, small infections, or medications can briefly elevate your SGPT level. Repeatedly high levels, however, suggest a more serious liver problem requiring assessment.
Elevated levels of SGPT typically indicate some kind of liver stress, inflammation, or damage. The liver cells release SGPT into the blood when damaged, which raises its levels. The following are some of the causes of elevated SGPT:
Excessive Drinking: Chronic alcohol use harms liver cells, leading to inflammation, cirrhosis, or liver failure, all of which can increase SGPT.
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Fat accumulation in the liver from alcohol can elevate SGPT levels.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Often associated with obesity and diabetes, NAFLD leads to fat buildup in the liver and increased SGPT.
Cirrhosis of the Liver: Progressive scarring reduces liver function; SGPT may be high or low depending on the extent of damage.
Adverse Effects of Medication: Drugs like statins, paracetamol, and some antibiotics can irritate or damage the liver, raising SGPT.
Liver Tumors or Cancer: Abnormal growths in the liver can interfere with normal enzyme levels, including SGPT.
Hepatitis Infections (A, B, C, etc.): Viral hepatitis causes liver inflammation, damaging cells and releasing SGPT into the blood.
Autoimmune Hepatitis: The immune system attacks the liver by mistake, leading to inflammation and elevated SGPT.
High SGPT levels in themselves are not a cause of symptoms, but underlying liver disease may. Here are some typical symptoms that are associated with high SGPT:
If you notice any combination of these symptoms, particularly over a prolonged duration, you need to have your liver enzymes tested with a combined ALT SGPT liver function test.
The SGPT test is a quick and easy test that entails a routine blood draw. Here's what to expect:
A medical professional will swab the area (typically your arm) and put in a needle to draw a blood sample.
Results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the lab. If your levels are higher than normal, your doctor may advise further investigations, including imaging tests or additional blood panels.
If your SGPT levels are elevated, the best approach is to treat the root cause. However, the following steps can generally help improve your liver health:
Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Steer clear of fried and processed foods, and reduce sugar consumption.
Exercise keeps you at a healthy weight and lowers liver fat, which can lower SGPT levels.
Drinking alcohol permanently injures liver cells, and smoking makes liver inflammation worse. Abstaining from both can dramatically enhance liver function.
Drinking plenty of water assists the body in flushing toxins and enhancing the function of the liver.
Both of these conditions add to the risk for fatty liver disease. Keep them in check with drugs and diet.
Don't self-medicate, and always take your doctor's recommendation on drug use seriously. Over-the-counter drugs can be surprisingly cruel to the liver.
If your SGPT levels are slightly higher than normal, your physician may recommend following them over time with periodic repeat tests. But repeatedly high or extremely high levels (e.g., over 100 U/L) would need to be further investigated and treated. Seek medical attention for symptoms such as jaundice, swelling of the abdomen, or ongoing fatigue—early diagnosis and treatment can avert severe damage to your liver. Don't let symptoms take hold—take control of your liver health today. Schedule your SGPT test with Pathkind Labs and experience diagnostic services you can rely on from the comfort of your home.
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