PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Younossi, Zobair M.
TI  - Evaluating asymptomatic patients with mildly elevated liver enzymes
DP  - 1998 Mar 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 150--158
VI  - 65
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/65/3/150.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/65/3/150.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med1998 Mar 01; 65
AB  - Because elevated liver enzymes are found in 1 % to 4% of asymptomatic persons, extensive evaluation of all abnormal tests would expose many patients to undue risks and medical costs. On the other hand, not evaluating minor elevations of liver enzymes could result in missing the early diagnosis of potentially treatable disorders. This review discusses likely causes of elevated aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels and provides algorithms for evaluating abnormal liver enzyme values in apparently healthy patients in the primary care setting.