In patients with autoimmune hepatitis, which enzymes are typically more elevated?

In patients with autoimmune hepatitis, the elevation of AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is a hallmark of the condition. These enzymes are released into the bloodstream when there is liver cell damage, which is a common occurrence in autoimmune hepatitis due to the immune system attacking liver cells. The elevation of AST and ALT is often significantly higher than alkaline phosphatase and can be used to assess the extent of liver inflammation.

While other markers such as alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase may also be elevated in liver conditions, the specific and more substantial increase in AST and ALT levels is characteristic of autoimmune hepatitis. Alkaline phosphatase is more associated with cholestatic liver diseases, bilirubin levels may rise but are not as prominently elevated as AST and ALT in this specific condition, and lactate dehydrogenase is not liver-specific.

Thus, the prominence of elevated AST and ALT levels in autoimmune hepatitis makes this choice the correct answer in identifying the enzymes typically found at higher levels in these patients.