What to know about the GGT test
Last reviewed Wed 15 May 2019
By Nicole Galan
Reviewed by Saurabh (Seth) Sethi, MD MPH
Doctors use the GGT test to diagnose liver problems. Doctors will measure GGT if they suspect damage to the liver or bile ducts, chronic alcohol abuse, or certain bone diseases.
In the GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) test, a healthcare professional measures the levels of GGT in a sample of blood. High levels of GGT in the blood can indicate damage to the liver or bile ducts. Damage.
This article looks at the purpose and procedure of the GGT test, normal GGT ranges, and what abnormal ranges can mean.
Normal GGT ranges
Doctor feels man's stomach for abdominal swelling resulting from liver disease.
If a doctor suspects that a person has liver disease, they may order a GGT test.
The liver contains the highest levels of GGT, while the blood and some other organs contain minimal quantities.
High levels of GGT in the blood could indicate that the enzyme is leaking out of the liver cells and into the blood, suggesting damage to the liver or bile ducts.
A typical range for GGT levels in adults and children is between 0 and 30 international units per liter (IU/L). Newborn infants will have significant higher levels right after birth.
A person with a normal GGT test probably does not have liver disease. When someone who is in treatment for alcohol use disorder has a normal reading, this likely means that they have not had an alcoholic drink recently.
GGT levels will rise according to the amount of liver damage a person has.
High GGT levels indicate that something is damaging the liver, although it does not diagnose the specific problem. A person will often need follow-up tests to find out the reasons for the elevated GGT levels.
A doctor may order a GGT test as part of regular blood testing during a yearly physical examination, if a person is taking a medication that has potentially toxic effects on the liver, or if someone has symptoms of liver disease.
Symptoms of liver damage
Symptoms of liver damage include:
Jaundice, which causes yellow skin, eyes, or mucous membranes
Dark urine
Nausea
Vomiting
Abnormal pain
Light-colored stool
Causes of liver damage
Diseases that can cause liver damage include:
Patient
Cirrhosis
Mung
Pancreatitis
Congestive heart failure
Exposure to toxins
Alcohol abuse作者: StephenW 时间: 2019-5-19 11:59
有关GGT测试的知识
最后审查时间：2019年5月15日
作者Nicole Galan
评论人：Saurabh（Seth）Sethi，MD MPH