Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Past Issues
    • Supplements
    • Article Type
  • Specialty
    • Articles by Specialty
  • CME/MOC
    • Articles
    • Calendar
  • Info For
    • Manuscript Submission
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Subscriptions
    • About CCJM
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
  • Conversations with Leaders
  • Conference Coverage
    • Kidney Week 2024
    • CHEST 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • Kidney Week 2023
    • ObesityWeek 2023
    • IDWeek 2023
    • CHEST 2023
    • MDS 2023
    • IAS 2023
    • ACP 2023
    • AAN 2023
    • ACC / WCC 2023
    • AAAAI Meeting 2023
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • Kidney Week 2022
    • AIDS 2022
  • Other Publications
    • www.clevelandclinic.org

User menu

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Log out

Search

  • Advanced search
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • www.clevelandclinic.org
  • Register
  • Log in
  • Log out
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Past Issues
    • Supplements
    • Article Type
  • Specialty
    • Articles by Specialty
  • CME/MOC
    • Articles
    • Calendar
  • Info For
    • Manuscript Submission
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Subscriptions
    • About CCJM
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
  • Conversations with Leaders
  • Conference Coverage
    • Kidney Week 2024
    • CHEST 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • Kidney Week 2023
    • ObesityWeek 2023
    • IDWeek 2023
    • CHEST 2023
    • MDS 2023
    • IAS 2023
    • ACP 2023
    • AAN 2023
    • ACC / WCC 2023
    • AAAAI Meeting 2023
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • Kidney Week 2022
    • AIDS 2022
Review

When and how to evaluate mildly elevated liver enzymes in apparently healthy patients

George Aragon, MD and Zobair M. Younossi, MD, MPH
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine March 2010, 77 (3) 195-204; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.77a.09064
George Aragon
Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA; Department of Gastroenterology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Zobair M. Younossi
Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: [email protected]
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

ABSTRACT

Because 1% to 9% of people without symptoms have elevated liver enzymes, extensive evaluation of all abnormal test results would expose many patients to undue risks and expenses. On the other hand, failure to evaluate minor liver enzyme elevations could mean 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 high liver enzyme values in apparently healthy patients in the primary care setting.

  • © 2010 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: 77 (3)
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Vol. 77, Issue 3
1 Mar 2010
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
When and how to evaluate mildly elevated liver enzymes in apparently healthy patients
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
When and how to evaluate mildly elevated liver enzymes in apparently healthy patients
George Aragon, Zobair M. Younossi
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Mar 2010, 77 (3) 195-204; DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.77a.09064

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
When and how to evaluate mildly elevated liver enzymes in apparently healthy patients
George Aragon, Zobair M. Younossi
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Mar 2010, 77 (3) 195-204; DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.77a.09064
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Linkedin Share Button

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Remotely controlled drug release in deep brain regions of non-human primates
  • Liver enzymes: No trivial elevations, even if asymptomatic
  • Interpreting an isolated raised serum alkaline phosphatase level in an asymptomatic patient
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Alpha-gal syndrome: Recognizing and managing a tick-bite–related meat allergy
  • Managing right ventricular failure in the setting of pulmonary embolism
  • Psychedelics, spirituality, and existential distress in patients at the end of life
Show more Review

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Supplements
  • Article Type
  • Specialty
  • CME/MOC Articles
  • CME/MOC Calendar
  • Media Kit

Authors & Reviewers

  • Manuscript Submission
  • Authors & Reviewers
  • Subscriptions
  • About CCJM
  • Contact Us
  • Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education
  • Consult QD

Share your suggestions!

Copyright © 2025 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved. The information provided is for educational purposes only. Use of this website is subject to the website terms of use and privacy policy. 

Powered by HighWire