Among a large number of different tests that a pregnant woman has to take, it is important to determine the level of ALT in the blood. As a rule, it is measured simultaneously with an enzyme such as AST, both of which are endogenous. Their synthesis occurs inside the cell, and only a certain amount of these enzymes penetrates the blood. According to medical practice, an increase in their concentration does not pose a threat to either the pregnant woman or the child. However, their level must be monitored, and if ALT is elevated during pregnancy, a blood test must be taken once every two weeks.
What does the term ALT mean?
Trying to decipher the test results, many are faced with letter abbreviations, and often the question arises, what is ALT? As you know, this enzyme (alanine aminotransferase) serves as the main source for obtaining the energy necessary to maintain the activity of the whole organism. It is difficult to talk about him in the singular, since AST takes an active part in the work of bodies. These components are involved in the synthesis of an amino acid such as alanine, which then becomes glucose.
ALT is involved in the work not only of the liver, but also of the kidneys and heart. To obtain a reliable picture of the state of health, indicators of both enzymes (AST and ALT) are taken into account. They are like indicators that signal a problem. In addition, it may be necessary to assess the level of bilirubin, cholesterol, LDH, alkaline phosphatase. This will establish a more accurate picture of the disease. In practice, an increase in liver enzymes occurs in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
If damage occurs to any organ, then the performance of these enzymes increases several times. And then they talk about an increased ALT during pregnancy. This does not always immediately indicate a clear problem or developing pathology. To monitor the state of health, a control analysis is usually carried out after taking medications. Only a specialist can appoint them.
Risk factors that lead to abnormalities
It happens that a pregnant woman is prescribed certain medications, the intake of which leaves behind specific enzymes in the blood cells. They can also cause an increase in ALT during pregnancy. Or this may be due to the introduction of a catheter, which violates the integrity of the skin, and particles of the active substance of the drug remain in the blood.
Toxic components can easily provoke damage and death of liver cells. There is a certain list of drugs that adversely affect the body:
- hormonal drugs that are prescribed to preserve pregnancy;
- antibiotics, including those that are allowed during pregnancy;
- antifungal, antiepileptic, anticonvulsant;
- diuretics;
- non-steroidal dosage forms that have an anti-inflammatory effect.
The growing fetus puts pressure on the internal organs, which leads to a disruption in the liver. Usually, at the end of the second - at the beginning of the third trimester, stagnation of bile occurs due to compression of the gallbladder. Violation of its natural outflow can also provoke an increase in ALT in the blood. If a pregnant woman suffers from diabetes mellitus, then while carrying the baby she is replaced with medicines for insulin.
If the woman’s well-being does not change, but there is a deviation from the normal indicators of this enzyme, then weekly monitoring should be carried out. However, when the opposite phenomenon is observed and the woman's condition approaches critical, emergency delivery by caesarean section may be required.
Side Effects of Deviation
Many are frightened by serious complications that threaten to leave the problem unattended and, of course, do not let any deviations from the norm during pregnancy take its course. Since the main organ that produces alanine is the liver, it is most likely that it has the prerequisites for the disease, which is what the increase in ALT means. This suggests the need to further control its work, as the growing load can lead to complications during the bearing of the baby.
Among the obvious diseases that arise with an increase in ALT levels are: pregnant women’s cholestasis, preeclampsia, acute fatty liver. If AST is measured simultaneously with this enzyme, then signs of heart failure can be determined. In the presence of pathologies or chronic diseases, the indicators will be increased. However, it is worth making a reservation that the cause of an increase in ALT may be previously transferred hepatitis, or else it is developing at the moment.
The side side of the increase in liver enzyme suggests the need to pay special attention to your diet and lifestyle. For many, it is stressful to abandon bad habits. It is advisable to get rid of them during pregnancy planning or in the first trimester. In this case, the body will have time to restore vital functions.
A lack of vitamin B6 also serves as a reason for increasing ALT during pregnancy. It is worth mentioning two unpleasant diagnoses that can be established in case of deviation from the norm: hepatitis and cirrhosis. If hepatitis A, B, C titers are transferred almost without obvious signs, then E is considered one of the most dangerous.
Reasons for the appointment of the study
There are many terms in medicine, and it is not always immediately clear what ALT is and why its level needs to be controlled. In addition to the mandatory test procedure during pregnancy, as a result of patient complaints or according to screening data, the doctor may suspect a deviation. Despite the fact that most of the reasons for prescribing an extended blood test are common to many pregnant women, there are a number of symptoms that should alert:
- pain in the chest;
- dizziness, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
- jaundice, increased levels of bilirubin in the blood, swelling;
- decreased appetite, often burping;
- increased blood pressure, protein in the urine;
- vomiting and nausea in the last trimester;
- discomfort in the abdomen, fatigue.
Do not hush up the presence of these problems, attributing them to a special situation. They can become prerequisites for the development of a serious disease. Since not everyone knows what it means to increase ALT, you need to get clarification from a competent specialist. In short, this enzyme is contained in several organs: the muscles of the skeleton, heart, liver, and kidneys.
How to prepare for analysis
Any medical procedures that a woman needs to undergo in the situation require preparation. The case with analyzes to determine the quality of metabolic processes is no exception. One of the most affordable ways to detect an increase in ALT during pregnancy is blood donation for biochemical analysis. At an early stage, you can get information about how the body reacts and behaves during pregnancy, whether the internal organs cope with the increased load.
On the eve of the analysis, it is necessary to exclude from the diet:
- carbonated drinks and coffee;
- sweet, excessively salty, fatty or spicy foods.
It is advisable to cook porridge or vegetable salad for dinner. They are easy to digest and do not burden the work of the stomach.
The process of taking biomaterial for research and decoding the results
Before you come to a medical institution for an analysis, you need to prepare. On the eve, it is worth excluding dairy products, plant foods from the diet, including legumes, eggs, sausages. On the day of delivery, you should refrain from eating, so that the indicators are reliable.
The blood sampling procedure takes place by taking it from a vein, so we can say that it is not painful. In order to eliminate the risk of hematoma formation, the injection site must be sealed with a band-aid or bandaged with a bandage. The results are prepared almost immediately, but you can get them on your hands the next day (if we are talking about a state clinic).
It happens that the norms in different clinics are different, so you should judge the results only after consulting a doctor. A 2-fold increase in ALT during pregnancy is considered uncritical, but if the numbers are increased 5 or more times, then this is an occasion for additional research (for example, ultrasound) and consultation with a specialist. In medical practice, a value has been established that clearly indicates the presence of pancreatitis or hepatitis, a deviation from the norm upward by 20 times.
Diseases that accompany an increase in ALT
Only a qualified doctor will be able to answer the question: "If ALT is elevated during pregnancy, what should I do?" Initially, it is necessary to understand that medicines alone cannot be dispensed with. This deviation is not typical for pregnancy. Norms are influenced by many factors. The readings exceeding the value of 32 Me / L are considered alarming.
If there is a discrepancy in the level of ALT upward, it is important to determine the causes and only then select a treatment regimen. The main signs of diseases that can show an increase in the level of the enzyme in the blood:
- Toxic hepatitis: can develop not only as a result of abuse of alcohol and tobacco, but also work in hazardous industries, prolonged use of drugs.
- Viral hepatitis: one of the most complex, transmitted by contact or via blood. It is insidious that for a long time it may not be manifested by obvious signs of the disease. The most complex form is hepatitis C.
- Hepatic cirrhosis refers to the most advanced form of the disease when irreversible effects in the body are triggered. Dead cells are no longer able to recover, and the prognosis in this case is not comforting.
However, it is always necessary to appropriately evaluate the results of analyzes. It is not a single case that is taken into account, but to verify the accuracy of the data obtained, the analysis is taken again. Also of great importance is the duration of pregnancy. The duration of treatment is determined by a return to ALT in a woman in position.
How to help a pregnant woman
The norm of ALT in women in the first trimester of pregnancy is considered a good indicator. This is due to the fact that not only hormonal changes occur, but also an active exchange of blood cells between the mother and the growing fetus. A specific assessment of the state of health of a woman can only be given by a qualified specialist.
If the reason for the increase in alanine aminotransferase indicators is a lack of vitamin B, then rehabilitation therapy is prescribed, which includes vitamins B and C, hepatoprotectors. It is also worth noting that the normalization of diet is one of the main ways to normalize the level of ALT in the blood. It is believed that the restoration of the liver is positively affected by eating brown rice, fruits and vegetables, green or any herbal tea.
The purpose of the treatment is not to lower the indicators, but to eliminate the inflammatory process, which leads to an increase in ALT during pregnancy. Only in this case can we talk about the possible restoration of the organ and health in general.
Affordable third trimester treatment
If during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester ALT is elevated, then, most likely, the woman is accompanied by headaches, dizziness, nausea, pain in the temporal region. These symptoms are characteristic of late gestosis and can cause quite noticeable discomfort. The load on the liver can be caused by the presence of diseases such as pancreatitis, heart disease, thyroid gland, genitourinary system, untreated infectious and inflammatory processes in the body. Definitely, you should not leave this unattended.
Methods of treating elevated ALT in the blood during pregnancy boil down to helping the liver perform its functions and recover. Therefore, any toxic drugs are excluded. Moreover, during pregnancy, a woman is contraindicated in most of them. The choice of doctors falls on drugs that are made on a plant basis. These include: Essential N, Tykveol, Gelabene, Legalon. They protect the cells of the body and restore it, as well as perform functions that the liver is currently unable to cope with. For example, it may be a secretory function, participation in metabolic processes, disposal of toxic products.
Special diet
If ALT is elevated during pregnancy, diet is one of the key points in restoring health. It is quite affordable and simple, for example, it is recommended to replace the usual tea with herbal. It is worth paying attention to the composition and give preference to dandelion, astragalus, thistle. As a seasoning, it is recommended to add turmeric, garlic. These simple components contribute to the launch of natural processes in the body that have antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects.
Among the biologically active additives, the inclusion of antioxidants in the diet is allowed, which helps the body rejuvenate cells and strengthen them. Quite available for sale are nuts and avocados, mangoes and citrus fruits. Which also belong to the group of antioxidants. It is advisable to consume at least 50 g of dietary fiber per day, which serve as a natural “cleaner” of “bad” cholesterol.
The key is not only healthy food intake, but also clean water. It is advisable to adhere to the daily norm and replace it with coffee, tea. If a woman does not consume any vitamins during pregnancy, then this can cause an increase in ALT during pregnancy. Why is so much attention paid to this issue? Because during the period when a woman carries a child, the body undergoes great changes and experiences an increased load. It is important not to miss the moment when you can help and restore the working ability of important organs, in particular the liver.