What is the AST and the normal - low - high levels

The article was professionally consulted by a microbiologist - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

AST is an enzyme found mainly in the cells of the liver and kidneys, to a lesser extent also found in cardiac and skeletal muscle. A high AST reading can signal liver cell damage, as well as damage to other organs, such as the heart or kidneys. Therefore, doctors often order the AST test along with other tests to evaluate liver function.

The AST (aspartate aminotransferase) test is a type of blood test that evaluates liver cell damage. The aminotransferases that are very sensitive markers in the assessment of hepatocellular injury include aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). AST is found in liver, heart muscle, skeletal muscle, kidney, brain, pancreas, lung, white blood cells, and red blood cells, with activity in descending order. Your doctor may order this test to diagnose liver disease, differentiate and monitor hepatobiliary diseases, myocardial infarction and skeletal muscle damage, or monitor treatment. The liver plays an important role in producing bile to help the body break down food, remove harmful substances from the blood, and produce proteins that help blood clot. AST is an enzyme produced mainly by the liver, and the amount of AST in the blood is usually low. When liver damage occurs, the amount of AST in the blood increases.

Your doctor may order this test if you have the following signs of liver damage:
Yellowing of the skin and eyes Fatigue Legs and ankles Bruising.

Some other reasons:
Exposure to the hepatitis virus Drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages Taking drugs that can cause liver damage Obesity Diabetes or metabolic syndrome Ever had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Your doctor may also order an AST test to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

There is no need to prepare anything before this test, however, talk to your doctor about all the medications you are taking as some drugs can affect the results of the test. this experience.

AST levels within the normal range vary between women and men:
Women: 9 to 32 units/liter (< 35 U/L) Men: 10 to 40 units/liter (< 50 U/L) L) Neonates and children: < 60 U/L. Talk to your doctor about specific AST numbers for better understanding.

Some causes of AST increase higher than normal:
Chronic hepatitis Cirrhosis Bile duct obstruction Liver cancer Some causes of AST index rise very high:
Acute viral hepatitis Diseases liver damage associated with hepatocellular necrosis, cirrhosis, cholestatic liver damage to the liver due to harmful effects of drugs or other toxins Obstruction of blood flow to the liver. Some other causes unrelated to liver disease can increase AST:
Heart attack Vigorous exercise Skeletal muscle trauma, progressive muscular dystrophy, dermatomyositis, gangrene Pregnancy Acute pancreatitis Co Seizure Surgery Pulmonary embolism Hemolytic disease. A slight increase in AST activity or may occur after taking drugs such as penicillins, salicylates or opiates
In addition, some drugs may give a “false positive” result for the AST test such as:
Drugs for DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) ) Certain antibiotics (erythromycin estolate or Paser). Usually, your doctor will order an AST test along with other tests such as ALP (alkaline phosphatase), bilirubin, and total protein tests.
Periodic health check-ups to be monitored and evaluated by a specialist. Customers can register for Hepatobiliary Screening Packages at hospitals with specialized doctors such as Vinmec International General Hospital to be able to detect and treat diseases in a timely manner.
Pay attention carefully and regularly do the necessary tests to protect your health, when the GGT index increases, you should immediately ask your doctor about your condition, what to do to prevent liver failure weak, leading to worse outcomes.

Articles refer to the source Webmd.com