In a blood count, the GPT indicates GPT transaminase levels in the bloodstream. This enzyme is found mainly in the liver; however, we can find it in the kidneys, heart, and other organs in smaller quantities.
If your blood test shows that you have high GPT transaminase, it is because there is some condition, disease, or injury in an organ that has altered your values. To diagnose it, it is necessary to carry out other tests and compare, for example, GGT or alkaline phosphatase, two elements that allow us to know if there is a problem in the liver.
Do you have a high GPT, and you want to know what it could be due to? The following FastlyHealarticle will explain everything about high GPT transaminase: causes and symptoms.
Table of Contents
What the GPT indicates
Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, GPT for its acronym in English, is an enzyme mainly in the liver; therefore, it should be at minimal levels in the bloodstream. As a general rule, if blood levels are high, it is because there is some liver damage; that is why this test is of great help to doctors to determine different conditions such as:
- Diagnosis of liver conditions, mainly hepatitis and cirrhosis.
- Control of the evolution of treatment for liver diseases.
- Find out if jaundice is caused by a blood or liver disorder.
- Track certain medications that can damage the liver.
GPT transaminase normal values
As in any other analysis, there are some parameters, some reference values that serve to measure what is expected and what is considered an alteration. However, it should not be taken as if it were unalterable. On the one hand, depending on the laboratory, there may be variations in average values; on the other, depending on the person’s medical history, age, and other factors, lower or higher values may fall within normality.
It is the job of the medical team to compare the results of the analysis with the general health of the person, their medical history, age, gender, and any other notable condition. Having clarified this, we explain what the normal values of GPT transaminase are :
- GPT transaminase normal values in men: amounts between 10 and 40 U / L or between 0.17 and 0.68 mckat / L.
- GPT transaminase normal values in women : some amount 7 and 35 U / L or between 0.12 and 0.60 mckat / L.
High GPT transaminase: causes
Many diseases and conditions can cause an increase in the level of GPT in the blood, most of them related to the liver and other vital pathologies. Here we explain the possible causes of high GPT :
- Alcoholism or dangerous alcohol intake
- Hemolytic type anemia
- Liver cancer
- Cirrhosis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Kidney disease
- Hepatitis
- Viral infections such as mononucleosis
- Wilson’s disease
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Pancreatitis
- Liver necrosis
In addition, another point to take into account is that there are certain drugs that, due to their processing in the liver, can cause an alteration in the GPT values without any disease that damages the liver.
High GPT: symptoms
Specifically, there are no symptoms that can alert us that GPT levels in the blood are elevated. High GPT is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying condition.
On the other hand, along with the elevation of the GPT, other symptoms may appear. Given that in the vast majority of cases, high transaminases mean that there is damage to the liver, we can explain to you what are the main symptoms of liver damage :
- Pain in the abdominal area.
- General discomfort.
- Vomiting and nausea
- Indigestion and fatigue after eating.
- Poor appetite
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- White stool
How to lower GPT high
The foods to cleanse the liver can be of great use to debug this body from time to time. It is recommended, at least once a year, to purify the liver to function well. If you have a high GPT it means that you have not done this, so you will have to change your habits and follow these guidelines to lower the GPT :
- Do not eat high-fat foods or processed foods.
- Refrain from eating very sugary foods as well as very salty foods.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol.
- Drink at least 2.5 liters of water a day.
- Eat plenty of fruit. However, you should avoid those with organic acids, for example, melon or strawberries.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to High GPT Transaminase: Causes and Symptoms, we recommend that you enter our Blood, Heart and Circulation category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.