Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT). Guide. An alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. ALT is found mainly in the liver, but also in smaller amounts in the kidneys, heart, muscles, and pancreas. ALT was formerly called serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT).
Definition of degeneration. 1  1 : degenerate (see 1degenerate) condition. 2  2 : a lowering of effective power, vitality, or essential quality to an enfeebled and worsened kind or state the country's degeneration into chaos â¦ enacts the degeneration of politics into televisual entertainment â¦ â Linda Holt.
degenerative disease. a disease in which the sole pathogenesis is degeneration; that is without the intervention of other pathogeneses, e.g. inflammation, traumatic injury, neoplasia. degenerative joint disease. see degenerative joint disease. degenerative left shift. an increase in immature neutrophilic granulocytes, in excess of mature cells of the series, with a normal or increased white blood cell count. A poor prognostic sign, indicating an inability of the bone marrow to respond adequately to infection.