https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38477384/

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024 Mar 13.
doi: 10.1002/jpn3.12167. Online ahead of print.

Measurement practices of alanine aminotransferase in children: Temporal changes and etiology for increased values

Linnea Aitokari 1 2 3, Pauliina Hiltunen 4, Heini Huhtala 5, Kalle Kurppa 1 2 4 6, Laura Kivelä 2 4 7 8
Affiliations expand
PMID: 38477384

DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.12167
Abstract

Data on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) measurement practices and diagnoses associated with increased values are limited. We evaluated these issues by collecting ALT measurements from 1- to 16-year-old patients investigated in 1992-2018 in a tertiary center. Diagnoses were gathered in 2008-2018. Altogether 145,092 measurements from 28,118 children were taken 42% undergoing repeated testing. Testing increased from 21/1000 to 81/1000 children and the prevalence of elevated values fluctuated between 18% and 26%. An increase was seen especially in emergency care and departments of rheumatology, gastroenterology, hemato-oncology, and psychiatry. Common acute causes associated with elevated ALT were infections (45%), hemato-oncologic conditions (17%), and external reasons (13%), whereas autoimmune diseases (28%), psychiatric conditions (14%), and metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (10%) were common chronic causes. In conclusion, ALT testing increased 3.9-fold while the proportion of increased values remained stable, indicating that increased testing was justified. However, in some departments the testing efficiency was low.