Hexahealth Care Team Tuesday, 01 November 2022
SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) and SGOT (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) are liver enzymes that help convert food into energy. These enzymes are predominantly produced by the liver but can also be found in the cells of the brain, heart, and kidneys. SGOT and SGPT are also known as AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine transaminase), respectively.
If high amounts of SGOT and SGPT are present in the blood, it can either be a result of leakage of the enzymes from the liver cells or excess production of these enzymes by the liver due to damage. This is why SGPT and SGOT levels are also indicators of the liver’s health. High SGPT and SGOT in pregnancy can be life-threatening for the mother and the foetus.
Table of Contents
- Rise of SGPT SGOT During Pregnancy
- What Are the Normal Levels of SGPT and SGOT?
- How to Bring Back SGPT and SGOT levels to normal?
- Simple Ways to Maintain Healthy SGOT and SGPT levels in Your Body
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Expert Doctors
- Related Hospitals
Rise of SGPT SGOT During Pregnancy
Some studies show that a slight increase in SGOT and SGPT levels can be noticed during the third trimester, but in most cases, their levels do not change during pregnancy. However, pregnancy does lead to many physiological changes in a woman’s body, which can also affect the normal functioning of the liver, thus, leading to high SGOT and SGPT in pregnancy.
So, the rise in SGPT and SGOT may not be directly linked to pregnancy but may indicate a liver disease caused due to pregnancy or pre-existing disease that flared during the pregnancy (these diseases are discussed in detail below).
What Are the Normal Levels of SGPT and SGOT?
The normal range of values for SGPT is about 7 to 56 units per litre of serum, and for SGOT, it is 5 to 40 units per litre of serum.
Slightly increased levels of SGPT and SGOT are usually considered normal during pregnancy, but if these levels are high, they may indicate a liver disease which can be dangerous for both the mother and the foetus.
Side effects of high SGOT and SGPT during pregnancy depend on the type and severity of liver disease in the patient.
Here are some of the liver diseases that may occur or worsen during pregnancy:
Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP)
It is a rare complication of pregnancy that occurs in less than 0.1 % of pregnant women. AFLP occurs due to a deficiency in the enzyme (3-hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) that helps break down the long chains of fatty acid.
Symptoms
The symptoms of AFLP are usually observed during the third trimester. However, the symptoms can vary in different individuals. They may include:-
- A feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the belly
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Jaundice
- Weight loss
- Fatigue and weakness
Risks and Complications
Fatty liver can harm both the mother and the foetus during the pregnancy. If left untreated, it can lead to the following complications:
- Bleeding tendency
- Intrauterine death
- Delayed foetal growth
- Premature delivery
- Increased risk of patient mortality
Chronic Liver Damage (Cirrhosis)
Cirrhosis may be present before pregnancy and may worsen during the pregnancy. If someone is already suffering from liver cirrhosis, doctors usually advise not to continue with the pregnancy as it increases the risk of:
- Intrauterine death
- Patient’s mortality
- Variceal bleeding (swelling and bleeding in the veins present on the lining of the oesophagus) during the second or third trimester.
Cirrhosis may or may not show any symptoms during the early stage. Even if the symptoms are present, they may be easily mistaken for some other disease. For example,
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Weight loss
However, if cirrhosis becomes severe, it may include the following symptoms:
- Easy bruising
- Jaundice
- Itching on the skin
- Confusion or memory loss
- Blood in stool
- Swelling in the legs, feets, and ankles
Viral Hepatitis E
Viral hepatitis E (HEV) is found to be more common in the underdeveloped and developing countries of Asia and Africa. It is transmitted through the faecal-oral route. In 50% of cases, the infected mother passes on HEV to her newborn child. It can be prevented by washing hands responsibly.
Hepatitis A, B, and C usually don’t involve any risks during pregnancy and can be easily managed in most cases. But Hepatitis E can harm both the mother and foetus, especially during the second and third trimesters.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of viral hepatitis E resemble those noticed in other types of acute hepatitis infections and liver injury. These may include:
- Mild fever
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundice (dark urine and pale stool)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Enlarged and tender liver
Risks and Complications
Viral hepatitis E can get severe in rare cases resulting in life-threatening conditions. Women who are in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy are more exposed to the risk of the following complications:
- Acute liver failure
- Loss of foetus
- Premature delivery
- Patient’s mortality
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the body’s immune system starts attacking the liver cells. It is more common in women, and it may be present before the pregnancy and can flare up at any time during the pregnancy or the postpartum period.
Symptoms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Itching
- Rashes
- Joint pain
- Risks and Complications
- Premature delivery
- Low-birth-weight infants
- Loss of foetus
Other liver diseases that are caused due to pregnancy may include:
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
- HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) syndrome
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
How to Bring Back SGPT and SGOT levels to normal?
To control high SGPT and SGOT in pregnancy, doctors may suggest a blood test to diagnose the underlying cause. The treatment to reduce the level of SGOT and SGPT depends on the underlying reason that caused the increase of these enzymes. The doctors recommend medications and lifestyle changes as per the underlying condition.
Simple Ways to Maintain Healthy SGOT and SGPT levels in Your Body
A lifestyle that includes smoking, excessive alcohol use, and lack of physical activities can lead to fat deposition in the liver, increasing the risk of liver diseases. Including a proper diet and incorporating healthy lifestyle changes in your daily routine can help prevent liver-related problems, thus, avoiding high SGOT and SGPT in pregnancy. Here are some simple tips to follow:
- Maintain Healthy Food Habits
Include a more organic and nutrient-rich diet in your routine, if you consciously make decisions about your diet plan, it can significantly decrease the risk of liver disease. - Tips for a healthy diet
- Eat food rich in vitamin D, including eggs, oranges, soy milk, tofu, dairy products, liver oil, mushrooms, etc.
- Colourful and leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, carrot, spinach, and potatoes, have high antioxidants, so incorporate more of them into your diet.
- Reduce the intake of oily, deep fried, processed, and junk food. Aerated drinks are also not good for liver health.
- Only take those medications that the doctor prescribes. Don’t self-medicate. Medicines contain chemicals that can be harmful to the liver and the foetus.
- Changes in Lifestyle
The following lifestyle changes can also help in enhancing liver health:- Avoid the use of alcoholic beverages.
- Smoking is bad for overall health. Passive smoking should also be avoided.
- Include physical exercises like jogging, brisk walking, cycling, swimming, etc. in your daily routine which can help prevent obesity, therefore reducing the risk of liver diseases.
- Avoid exposure to harmful chemicals using gloves, masks, and other protective devices.
- Regular Health Checkups
- High SGOT and SGPT in pregnancy can be used as indicators of liver health. But liver diseases often don’t show any symptoms until they progress to a chronic stage. This is why going for regular health checkups is important to diagnose the damage at an early stage so that it can be managed in time. An SGOT test is one such test carried out to get the liver profile of the patient.
- High SGOT and SGPT in pregnancy can be used as indicators of liver health. But liver diseases often don’t show any symptoms until they progress to a chronic stage. This is why going for regular health checkups is important to diagnose the damage at an early stage so that it can be managed in time. An SGOT test is one such test carried out to get the liver profile of the patient.
So, along with taking care of your diet and including physical activities in your routine, you should also consider full body checkups at regular time intervals to prevent serious liver damage and avoid high treatment costs. Choosing a trusted healthcare organisation is also necessary to get accurate and reliable test results.
The expert team at Hexa Health can help you find the best health care organisation around you for a medical checkup.
In case you want to ask any doubts about the side effects of high SGOT and SGPT levels during pregnancy, feel free to contact our Hexa Health experts for further knowledge. They will also guide you to reduce your SGOT and SGPT levels effectively.
FAQs
What happens if SGPT and SGOT is high in pregnancy? ›
Slightly increased levels of SGPT and SGOT are usually considered normal during pregnancy, but if these levels are high, they may indicate a liver disease which can be dangerous for both the mother and the foetus.
How can I reduce SGOT and SGPT in pregnancy? ›- Increase Vitamin D in your diet by including eggs, oranges, tofu, soy milk, dairy products, liver oil, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, etc.
- Eat nutrient-rich, organic, and plant-based food as it is good for liver health.
- Avoid too much salt and sodium-rich food.
Conclusion. Liver disease in pregnancy can manifest as a benign disease with abnormal elevation of liver enzyme levels and a good outcome, or it can manifest as a serious entity affecting hepatobiliary function and resulting in liver failure and death to the mother and her fetus.
What are the side effects of high SGPT? ›- Jaundice.
- Easy bruising.
- Excessive bleeding.
- Shortness in breath.
- Swelling in the leg area.
- Fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
In contrast, the addition of hydroxychloroquine to a regimen of either MTX or aspirin essentially eliminated the SGOT and SGPT abnormalities.
How long does it take to lower SGOT and SGPT? ›The SGPT range can be lowered in 3 days depending on the condition of the disease. You can manage your liver disease by incorporating a healthy diet and good lifestyle and eliminating harmful food items.
What causes high SGPT during pregnancy? ›Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy affect your liver's ability to transport bile. This means your bile doesn't move through your body, causing it to build up in your liver and enter your bloodstream.
What food causes high SGPT and SGOT? ›- Alcohol. Alcohol can be a major cause of fatty liver disease as well as other liver diseases.
- Added sugar. Stay away from sugary foods such as candy, cookies, sodas, and fruit juices. ...
- Fried foods. These are high in fat and calories.
- Added salt. ...
- White bread, rice, and pasta. ...
- Red meat.
About 10 percent of newborns with liver disease will be diagnosed with A1AT deficiency. Newborns may develop jaundice as part of inflammation of the liver associated with A1AT deficiency. Older children and teens can present with a liver that has been inflamed for a long time, causing scarring (cirrhosis) to develop.
What are the signs of liver damage during pregnancy? ›The patient who is pregnant or recently pregnant may present liver problems in pregnancy. Depending on the disease, a constellation of symptoms can be found. Presentations include abnormal liver tests, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, right upper quadrant pain, ascites, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
What are the symptoms of liver damage in pregnancy? ›
- HG is defined as nausea and intractable vomiting that results in dehydration, ketosis, and weight loss >5% of body weight [1,11]. ...
- Clinical signs lead to dehydration and increased renal values, electrolyte abnormalities, metabolic alkalosis, and erythrocytosis [1,2,7,12].
An SGOT/SGPT ratio greater than 2 is highly suggestive of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It occurs in 70% of these patients compared with 26% of patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis, 8% with chronic hepatitis, 4% with viral hepatitis and none with obstructive jaundice.
How can I recover from high SGPT? ›To reduce the sgpt level, diet modifications are needed. Your daily diet should consist of at least one fruit containing vitamin d. Alternatively, you can simply stand out in the sunlight for at least 20 minutes per day to get vitamin d. Couple it with some exercises that will help you stay healthy.
Can SGOT SGPT increase due to infection? ›Hello elevated sgpt and sgot have several causes it can be due to infection viral or bacterial or may be due to obesity alcoholism some indigenous medicine intake.in your case typhoid is a remote possibility.
What is the normal range danger level of SGPT and SGOT? ›Normal levels of SGOT: 5-40 units/liter of serum. what are elevated levels of SGOT and SGPT? SGPT is present predominantly in the liver and when it is produced in excess, it leaks into the bloodstream. The normal range of SGPT is about 7 to 56 units / liters of blood serum.
What foods are good for liver repair? ›What foods are good for liver repair? Many foods contain specific compounds or antioxidants that have been shown to support liver function. A few examples include grapefruit, blueberries, cranberries, fatty fish, olive oil, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
Does fasting reduce SGPT? ›shows significant decrease in SGOT and SGPT level during fasting (p<0.05).
What if SGOT is more than 100? ›If the results of your SGOT test are high, that means one of the organs or muscles containing the enzyme could be damaged. These include your liver, but also the muscles, heart, brain, and kidneys. Your doctor may order follow-up tests to rule out another diagnosis.
How can I control my liver enzymes during pregnancy? ›Ursodeoxycholic acid (Actigall), given at dosages of 15 mg per kg per day, has been the most successful therapy for cholestasis of pregnancy, as it ameliorates both the pruritus and liver function abnormalities and is well-tolerated by both mother and fetus.
Which fruit is best for liver? ›Fill your fruit basket with apples, grapes and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, which are proven to be liver-friendly fruits. Consume grapes as it is, in the form of a grape juice or supplement your diet with grape seed extracts to increase antioxidant levels in your body and protect your liver from toxins.
What can I drink to flush my liver? ›
- Chamomile Tea. This tea is mildly bitter due to its sesquiterpene lactone content which helps the liver prime its detoxification pathways. ...
- Lemon Water. ...
- Jujube Fruit. ...
- Lotus Seed. ...
- Rose Tea. ...
- Peppermint Tea. ...
- Oat Tea. ...
- Schizandra Berry Tea.
Lemon water can also benefit your liver health. Studies have observed that the liver produces more enzymes in the presence of lemon when compared to other food items. Enzymes are essential to stimulate, accelerate, and catalyze various chemical reactions in the human body.
Can a pregnancy survive in the liver? ›Hepatic ectopic pregnancy is characterized by implantation of the fertilized ovum primarily in the liver. There is high mortality associated with this condition owing to delay in diagnosis and torrential intra-operative hemorrhage.
What causes abnormal liver function in pregnancy? ›Evidence suggests that it is caused by a combination of hormonal, genetic and environmental factors. All hormones are metabolised (broken down) in the liver. One theory is that the liver cannot cope with the high levels of hormones during pregnancy (oestrogen and progesterone).
Is pregnancy hard on the liver? ›The liver diseases unique to pregnancy include hyperemesis gravidarum, acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), and hemolysis and elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome.
Where do you feel liver pain in pregnancy? ›AFLP usually starts late in the third trimester of pregnancy. These are the most common symptoms of AFLP: Nausea and vomiting. Belly pain, especially in the top right side.
What is the difference between SGPT and SGOT? ›The key difference between SGOT and SGPT is that SGOT is present in various tissues, such as the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and skeletal muscles. However, SGPT is primarily located in the liver, with low concentration in other tissues.
Which food avoid in high SGPT? ›- Poultry, except for lean white meat.
- Full-fat cheese.
- Yogurt, except low-fat.
- Red meat.
- Baked goods and fried foods made with palm or coconut oils.
- Sugary items like candy, regular soda, and other foods with added sugars including high-fructose corn syrup.
SGPT is released into blood when the liver or heart are damaged. The blood SGPT levels are thus elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or with an insult to the heart (for example, from a heart attack). Some medications can also raise SGPT levels. Also called alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
What is normal SGPT level in third trimester? ›Based on SGPT levels among the second trimester patients, both patients (100%) had normal SGPT (<35 U/L), while in the third trimester patients, 4 patients (8%) had increased SGPT in the range of 29-58 U/L, 4 patients (8%) had increased SGPT >58 U/L, and 41 patients (84%) had normal SGPT (<29 U/L).
What does SGOT test mean in pregnancy? ›
An AST blood test, or SGOT test, checks how much AST, a liver enzyme, is present in the blood. High levels of AST in the bloodstream could be a sign of liver damage, or cell damage in another organ such as the heart or kidneys.
What is the normal range of SGPT and SGOT in pregnancy? ›SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) is a liver enzyme, also known as alanine transaminase (ALT). The normal range for SGPT levels in the blood is typically between 7 and 56 units per liter (U/L).
What is dangerously high SGOT? ›An SGOT/SGPT ratio greater than 2 is highly suggestive of alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It occurs in 70% of these patients compared with 26% of patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis, 8% with chronic hepatitis, 4% with viral hepatitis and none with obstructive jaundice.
Is delivery by 37 weeks necessary for cholestasis of pregnancy? ›Key points about cholestasis of pregnancy
The goals of treating cholestasis of pregnancy are to relieve itching and prevent complications for your developing baby. Babies of women with cholestasis are often delivered early (usually around 37 weeks) because of the risks.
To reduce the sgpt level, diet modifications are needed. Your daily diet should consist of at least one fruit containing vitamin d. Alternatively, you can simply stand out in the sunlight for at least 20 minutes per day to get vitamin d. Couple it with some exercises that will help you stay healthy.
How can I lower my SGPT in a week? ›...
How to lower SGOT in 1 week?
- Follow a healthy lifestyle like exercising on a regular basis.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Quit smoking.
The normal range of an SGOT test is generally between 8 and 45 units per liter of serum. In general, men may naturally have higher amounts of AST in the blood. A score above 50 for men and 45 for women is high and may indicate damage.
Is High SGOT curable? ›Regular health check-ups
High SGPT or SGOT is usually an indication of liver cell injury. Implementing these healthy lifestyle modifications with a healthy diet is the best resolution to lower SGPT and SGOT levels.
- Alcohol. Alcohol can be a major cause of fatty liver disease as well as other liver diseases.
- Added sugar. Stay away from sugary foods such as candy, cookies, sodas, and fruit juices. ...
- Fried foods. ...
- Added salt. ...
- White bread, rice, and pasta. ...
- Red meat.
Also, cholestasis of pregnancy increases the risk of complications during pregnancy such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. In babies, the complications of cholestasis of pregnancy can be severe. They may include: Being born too early, also called preterm birth.
What is the main cause of cholestasis? ›
Among the most common causes of cholestatic liver disease are primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
Can cholestasis be passed to baby? ›Maternal intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) results in increased bile acid transfer from mother to fetus. As the fetus has reduced ability to eliminate bile acids across the placenta, the bile acids accumulate in the cord blood serum, meconium and amniotic fluid.