Solutions Manual > Henryville Jr & Sr High Sch - BUSINESS 101RC501 Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
| ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE (ALT) | | PURPOSE | In vitro test for the quantitative determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in human serum and plasma on Roche/Hitachi cobas c systems. | SCOPE | Chemistry | AUTHORIZATION | … | POLICYSummary1,2The enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) has been widely reported as present in a variety of tissues. The major source of ALT is the
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| ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE (ALT) |
| PURPOSE | In vitro test for the quantitative determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in human serum and plasma on Roche/Hitachi cobas c systems.
| SCOPE | Chemistry
| AUTHORIZATION | …
| POLICY
Summary1,2
The enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) has been widely reported as present in a variety of tissues. The major source of ALT is the liver, which has led to the measurement of ALT activity for the diagnosis of hepatic diseases. Elevated serum ALT is found in hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructive jaundice, carcinoma of the liver, and chronic alcohol abuse. ALT is only slightly elevated in patients who have an uncomplicated myocardial infarction.
Although both serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ALT become elevated whenever disease processes affect liver cell integrity, ALT is the more liver-specific enzyme. Moreover, elevations of ALT activity persist longer than elevations of AST activity.
In patients with vitamin B6 deficiency, serum aminotransferase activity may be decreased. The apparent reduction in aminotransferase activity may be related to decreased pyridoxal phosphate, the prosthetic group for aminotransferases, resulting in an increase in the ratio of apoenzyme to holoenzyme.
Test principle
This assay follows the recommendations of the IFCC, but was optimized for performance and stability.3, 4
ALT catalyzes the reaction between L-alanine and 2-oxoglutarate. The pyruvate formed is reduced by NADH in a reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to form L-lactate and NAD+.