What does it mean when alanine transaminase is high?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, your liver enzymes are raised which requires evaluation of the cause. The most common causes of such liver derangements are alcohol, viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and drugs. However, the rise is not very high, still, we should rule out possibilities like hepatitis B and C because they can later cause liver cirrhosis. I would advise you to get investigations done for HBsAg (surface antigen) for hepatitis B, an anti-HCV (hepatitis c virus) antibody for hepatitis C and an ultrasound of the abdomen. A lot many times, liver dysfunction is due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). So, if you have any evidence of fatty liver in ultrasound and your other tests are negative, this rise in liver enzyme would be attributed to NAFLD. For this, you need to reduce your weight and reduce fat in the diet, and if required your doctor may prescribe you Ursodeoxycholic acid for the same. Make sure that you do not take any painkillers without your doctor's advice. I hope this helps.