BMJ  2004;328 (24 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7446.0-b

"Normal" levels of aminotransferase don't rule out liver disease

High normal levels of serum aminotransferase concentration may be a warning of liver disease. Kim and colleagues (p 983) followed up more than 142 000 people in Korea for eight years. Even within the normal range of aminotransferase concentration (35-40 IU/l), men with concentrations of 20-29 IU/l and anyone with concentrations of 30-39 IU/l had a significantly higher risk of dying from liver disease than people with concentrations < 20 IU/l. People with high normal aminotransferase activity may need to be observed and further investigated for liver diseases, say the authors, and normal limits may need to be lowered in some populations.

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Normal serum aminotransferase concentration and risk of mortality from liver diseases: prospective cohort study

Hyeon Chang Kim, Chung Mo Nam, Sun Ha Jee, Kwang Hyub Han, Dae Kyu Oh, and Il Suh
BMJ 2004 328: 983. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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