Clinical Review
Evaluating Primary Care Providers' Responses to Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Elevations
Fed Pract. 2007 July;24(7):44
Author and Disclosure Information
Christine Pocha, MD, Kevin Gaylord, MD, Benedict Maliakkal, MD, and John B. Rodgers, MD
Dr. Pocha is the hepatitis C lead clinician in the department of medicine/gastroenterology at the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center (Stratton VAMC) and an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the Albany Medical College, both in Albany, NY. Dr. Gaylord is a gastroenterologist in private practice in Wilmington, NC. Dr. Maliakkal is an associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of Rochester and the digestive disease unit of Strong Memorial Hospital, both in Rochester, NY. Dr. Rodgers is the chief of the department of medicine/gastroenterology at the Stratton VAMC and a professor of medicine in the department of gastroenterology at the Albany Medical College.
Elevations in serum ALT levels—even when mild and intermittent—can signal serious liver disease. These investigators examine whether clinicians at one VA medical center are recognizing the danger and taking appropriate action.