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Alternative names
Aspartate aminotransferase; Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; SGOTDefinition Return to top
A test that measures the amount of the enzyme AST in serum.How the test is performed Return to top
Adult or child:How to prepare for the test Return to top
Spurious increases in AST may occur in pregnancy and after exercise.How the test will feel Return to top
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Why the test is performed Return to top
AST is in high concentration in heart muscle, liver cells, skeletal muscle cells, and to a lesser degree, in other tissues. Although elevated serum AST is not specific for liver disease, it is used primarily to diagnose and monitor the course of liver disease (in combination with other enzymes such as ALT, ALP, and bilirubin). It has also been used to monitor patients with heart attacks, but it is much less specific than CPK isoenzyme and LDH isoenzyme for this purpose.Normal Values Return to top
The normal range is 10 to 34 IU/L.What abnormal results mean Return to top
Diseases that affect liver cells cause the release of AST. The AST/ALT ratio (with both elevated) is usually greater than 2 in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
An increase in AST levels may indicate:
What the risks are Return to top
Special considerations Return to top
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Update Date: 4/29/2003 Updated by: Andrew J. Muir, M.D., M.H.S., Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |