AST

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Risks

Results

AST

Alternative Names:

Aspartate aminotransferase; Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; SGOT

Normal Values:

The normal range is 10 to 34 IU/L.

Note: IU/L = international units per liter

What abnormal results mean:

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:

acute hemolytic anemia
acute pancreatitis
acute renal failure
hepatic (liver) cirrhosis
hepatic (liver) necrosis (tissue death)
hepatitis
infection mononucleosis
liver cancer
multiple trauma
myocardial infarction (heart attack)
primary muscle disease
progressive muscular dystrophy
recent cardiac catheterization or angioplasty
recent convulsion
recent surgery
severe deep burn
skeletal muscle trauma

Review Date: 2/14/2005
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.