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Serum alanine aminotransferase in skeletal muscle diseases
Author(s) -
Nathwani Rahul A.,
Pais Shireen,
Reynolds Telfer B.,
Kaplowitz Neil
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.20548
Subject(s) - creatine kinase , medicine , skeletal muscle , alanine aminotransferase , lactate dehydrogenase , polymyositis , liver injury , alanine transaminase , endocrinology , gastroenterology , biology , biochemistry , enzyme
Although elevation of the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) following liver injury is well known, confusion exists concerning skeletal muscle injury as the cause of this rise. We reviewed the records of 16 patients who had muscle necrosis without evidence of liver disease. The patients were divided into three groups: extreme exercise, polymyositis, and seizures. All patients exhibited markedly elevated creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels consistent with muscle injury. In acute cases, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ALT were both elevated, and the AST/ALT ratio was greater than 3, but this ratio approached 1 after a few days because of a faster decline in AST. In conclusion , this difference in half‐life accounts for the comparable AST and ALT levels in our cases with chronic muscle injury. (H EPATOLOGY 2005;41:380–382.)