Alcoholic liver disease laboratory findings

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M. Khurram Afzal, MD [2]

Laboratory Findings

• Elevated liver enzymes:
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level will be greater than that of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
  • AST and ALT levels both will be below 300 IU/ml.
  • The key to diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease is that the AST to ALT ratio will be greater than 2.
• Elevated levels of gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) will indicate heavy alcohol use and may also indicate liver injury. This test is sensitive but not specific.
• Elevated triglyceride levels (hypertriglyceridemia).
• Elevated uric acid levels (hyperuricemia)
• Low potassium levels (hypokalemia)
• Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia)
• Elevated index of red blood cell size; increased mean corpuscular erythrocyte volume (MCV)

2010 AASLD/ACG Alcoholic Liver Disease Guidelines (DO NOT EDIT)

Laboratory Tests : Guidelines (DO NOT EDIT)

Class I

1. " For patients with a history of alcohol abuse or excess and evidence of liver disease, further laboratory tests should be done to exclude other etiologies and to confirm the diagnosis. (Level of evidence: C) "