In hepatitis, marked elevations in which enzyme are typically observed?

In cases of hepatitis, marked elevations in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are typically observed. This enzyme is primarily found in the liver, and its levels increase significantly when liver cells are damaged due to inflammation or injury, such as in viral hepatitis or other liver diseases. The degree of elevation in ALT levels can be quite high, often greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal, which helps in diagnosing and assessing the severity of liver inflammation.

ALT is more liver-specific compared to other liver enzymes, making it a crucial marker for hepatocellular injury. In contrast, other enzymes highlighted in the options, such as alkaline phosphatase or amylase, may not show significant elevation in hepatitis or are more relevant in other conditions, such as cholestasis or pancreatic diseases respectively. Lipase primarily indicates pancreatic inflammation, which would not be relevant in the context of hepatitis specifically. Thus, the elevation of ALT is a key marker in diagnosing and managing hepatitis.