What Labs Are Elevated With Alcoholism?

Robert Gerchalk

Robert is our health care professional reviewer of this website. He worked for many years in mental health and substance abuse facilities in Florida, as well as in home health (medical and psychiatric), and took care of people with medical and addictions problems at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.

Think you have a drinking problem?

If you suspect you might have a drinking problem, don't wait to seek help. Call our hotline now for confidential advice, support, and the first step towards understanding your relationship with alcohol and beginning your journey to recovery.

What Labs Are Elevated With Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a progressive disease that includes symptoms like unable to control drinking, feeling sick when you don’t drink, and continuing to drink even though it’s causing problems. It can also lead to changes in brain function and behavior.

Some of the labs that may be elevated in someone with alcoholism include:

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, please seek professional help.

Labs that are commonly elevated with alcoholism include:

GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase)

AST (aspartate aminotransferase)

ALT (alanine aminotransferase)

MCV (mean corpuscular volume)

These labs can be helpful in diagnosing alcoholism and can also give insights into how much alcohol someone is drinking. For example, someone with a high GGT may be drinking more than someone with a lower GGT. This is just one example, but all of these labs can be helpful in determining the severity of alcoholism.