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Multiple Choice

What was ALT formerly called?

ALT, the liver enzyme measured to assess hepatocellular injury, was historically known as SGPT (serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase). This older name reflects the transamination reaction it catalyzes between glutamate and pyruvate, which is why the term “glutamate-pyruvate transaminase” appeared in early literature. Over time, the concise name alanine aminotransferase became standard, but SGPT remains encountered in older texts and some lab reports. SGOT refers to the other enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, not ALT, and ALAT is simply another label used in some languages for ALT. So SGPT is the former name of ALT.

ALT, the liver enzyme measured to assess hepatocellular injury, was historically known as SGPT (serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase). This older name reflects the transamination reaction it catalyzes between glutamate and pyruvate, which is why the term “glutamate-pyruvate transaminase” appeared in early literature. Over time, the concise name alanine aminotransferase became standard, but SGPT remains encountered in older texts and some lab reports. SGOT refers to the other enzyme, aspartate aminotransferase, not ALT, and ALAT is simply another label used in some languages for ALT. So SGPT is the former name of ALT.