In cases of viral hepatitis, which liver function test component is typically elevated more?

In cases of viral hepatitis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is typically elevated more than aspartate aminotransferase (AST). ALT is considered more liver-specific than AST, making it a more sensitive marker for liver injury particularly in the context of hepatitis. When hepatocytes are damaged, as occurs in viral hepatitis, ALT is released into the bloodstream, leading to its higher levels.

While AST can also be elevated in liver conditions, its elevation is not as pronounced as that of ALT in viral hepatitis. This differential elevation helps clinicians distinguish between liver pathologies and other conditions that may cause elevated AST, such as muscle injury, where AST levels can rise regardless of liver health.

In other liver function tests, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) are generally more associated with cholestatic processes (obstruction or biliary issues) rather than direct hepatocellular injury, making their elevation less indicative of viral hepatitis specifically. Therefore, the significant elevation of ALT in this context reinforces its role as a key marker for identifying liver damage due to viral infections.