Liver diseases & SGOT/SGPT test

SGOT and SGPT enzymes are primarily found in liver cells. Therefore liver diseases and SGOT/SGPT test has a close association. SGOT enzyme is basically a cytosolic enzyme (mainly present in the cytosol of the liver cells) whereas SGPT enzyme is found in mitochondria of liver cells. Because of these reasons High SGOT/SGPT test values usually indicated liver dysfunction.

Since SGOT enzyme is a cytosolic enzyme, mild to moderate liver damage result elevation of SGOT enzyme level in the blood than that of SGPT enzyme. To have a high SGPT enzyme level in the blood, liver damage should be marked. Therefore SGOT/SGPT test values depend on the degree of liver damage.

Hepatitis (viral or non-viral), alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, fatty liver diseases, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are the common liver condition which result in high SGOT/SGPT test value.

Rarely viral hepatitis result in serious liver damage therefore viral hepatitis usually gives rise to high SGOT and normal SGPT level. Even though this is the case with Hepatitis A infection, Hepatitis B can result in severe liver damage thus result in markedly elevated SGOT/SGPT test value.

Alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis and fatty liver disease result in moderately increased SGOT/SGPT test value. Eclampsia and HELLP are pregnancy associated liver conditions and those can result severe liver damage.

Enzyme	normal	Moderately high	high
SGOT	0-42	42-200	>200
SGPT	0-48	48-150	>150