Usual transaminase values: should they be reviewed and adjusted?

Abstract

Alanine (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferases (AST) are intracellular enzymes involved in the metabolism of amino acids. The measurements of their activities are two of the most ordered tests in clinical laboratories, used to screen, diagnose and follow diseases affecting the liver. Recent works highlighted that reference values for ALT and AST vary according to the analytical method and the individual’s characteristics, like with many other biomarkers. Reference values for ALT show clinically significant differences according to the analytical method (higher when supplementing samples with phosphate pyridoxal), gender (higher in males than in females), body mass index (positive correlation), and age (higher in infants and the elderly), but not according to ethnicity or employed analyzer. According to the analytical method and age, reported reference values for AST show clinically significant differences, similar to ALT. These observations prove clinical laboratories’ interest in updating their reference values according to sex, body mass index, age (especially when providing testing to pediatric or elderly populations), and the analytical method employed. If possible, a standardized method should be used, including sample supplementation with pyridoxal phosphate, to ensure the comparability of results between laboratories.