The persistence and significance of elevated XXXX aminotransferase levels in blood donors.

@entity167 @entity492 @entity99 @entity493
The level of @entity493 aminotransferase (ALT) in blood donors has been related to the frequency of posttransfusion @entity99 in recipients. Sixty-seven donors with elevated ALT levels were evaluated to define the duration and significance of the elevation. The ALT level remained elevated in 41 donors (61%) for a mean interval of 9 months. The ALT level was greater than the @entity492 aminotransferase in all of the donors. @entity167 intake did not correlate with ALT level. Donors with persistently elevated ALT levels had a significantly higher mean percent ideal body weight (128 +/- 3.9) than donors whose ALT level became normal (116 +/- 3.1). Nine donors with elevated ALT levels for at least 6 months had needle biopsies of the liver. Seven had prominent fatty vacuolization of hepatocytes without evidence of @entity99 . One biopsy demonstrated chronic persistent @entity99 . No other cause for the elevated ALT levels could be identified. An overweight male donor with an isolated ALT elevation may need no further investigation unless clinical evaluation suggests a source of @entity99 .
