Alcoholic liver disease typically shows which AST:ALT ratio?

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Multiple Choice

Alcoholic liver disease typically shows which AST:ALT ratio?

Alcoholic liver injury tends to elevate AST more than ALT, giving a disproportionately higher AST relative to ALT. This happens because alcohol-related damage involves the mitochondrial form of AST and because alcohol can cause vitamin B6 deficiency, which lowers ALT activity. The result is an AST:ALT ratio greater than 2:1, with AST often 2–3 times the upper limit of normal while ALT is only mildly elevated or normal. This pattern helps differentiate alcoholic liver injury from other causes, such as viral hepatitis, where ALT is typically higher and the ratio is less than 1 or around 1.

Alcoholic liver injury tends to elevate AST more than ALT, giving a disproportionately higher AST relative to ALT. This happens because alcohol-related damage involves the mitochondrial form of AST and because alcohol can cause vitamin B6 deficiency, which lowers ALT activity. The result is an AST:ALT ratio greater than 2:1, with AST often 2–3 times the upper limit of normal while ALT is only mildly elevated or normal. This pattern helps differentiate alcoholic liver injury from other causes, such as viral hepatitis, where ALT is typically higher and the ratio is less than 1 or around 1.

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