what is AST in a blood test
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- An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. AST is normally found in red blood cells, liver, heart, muscle tissue, pancreas, and kidneys. AST formerly was called serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT).
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AST (SGOT) AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is 1 of the 2 liver enzymes.. It is also known as serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT. AST is a protein made by liver cells. When liver cells are damaged, AST leaks out into the bloodstream and the level of AST in the blood becomes higher than normal. AST is different from ALT because AST is found in parts of the body other than the liver--including the heart, kidneys, muscles, and brain.
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- AST, however, is not specific for the liver and may be increased in conditions affecting other parts of the body. An AST test is often performed along with an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test. Both are enzymes found in the liver that become elevated in the blood when the liver is damaged.
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- AST is the abbreviation for aspartate aminotransferase, which is an enzyme that is commonly found in the liver, heart and muscles. blood test that reveals a high AST level does not necessarily imply that there is liver disease present. In fact, AST levels can become elevated after strenuous exercise and as a result of pregnancy.
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What does AST in a lipid panel mean? AST or aspartate aminotransferase is a test of liver function. In roughly 1 to 2% of patients starting statin therapy, AST and ALT (alanine aminotransferase, another test that monitors liver function) may increase. However, significant increases in AST or ALT are extremely rare and new guidelines no longer recommend routine monitoring of liver function studies with statin therapy.
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What Is an Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Test? When your liver is damaged, it puts more AST into your blood, and your levels rise. A high AST level is a sign of liver damage, but it can also mean you have damage to another organ that makes it, like your heart or kidneys. That's why doctors often do the AST test together with tests of other liver enzymes.
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AST AST is an enzyme found mostly in the liver, red blood cells, heart and other muscles. When liver, red blood cells, heart or muscle cells are injured, they release AST into the blood.n the slowly developing variety of liver disease, chronic hepatitis, AST levels are usually not as high, often less than 4 times the highest normal level. In chronic hepatitis, AST often varies between normal and slightly increased, so doctors might request the test regularly to determine the pattern of change.
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- Why It Is Done. An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test is done to: 1  Check for liver damage. 2  Help identify liver disease, especially hepatitis and cirrhosis. 3  Liver disease may produce symptoms such as pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes jaundice. 4  Check on the success of treatment for liver disease.
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- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is usually measured concurrently with AST as part of a liver function panel to determine the source of organ damage. ALT is more specific for liver damage since it is found primarily in the liver and has a longer half-life, whereas AST is found in many other organs.
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- An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test is done to: 1  Check for liver damage. 2  Help identify liver disease, especially hepatitis and cirrhosis. 3  Check on the success of treatment for liver disease. 4  Find out whether jaundice was caused by a blood disorder or liver disease. 5  Keep track of the effects of medicines that can damage the liver.n aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test is done to: 1  Check for liver damage. 2  Help identify liver disease, especially hepatitis and cirrhosis. 3  Check on the success of treatment for liver disease. 4  Find out whether jaundice was caused by a blood disorder or liver disease. 5  Keep track of the effects of medicines that can damage the liver.
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- Hepatic transaminase tests such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) often are part of standard laboratory panels in asymptomatic outpatients, similar to screening tests for blood donors and for life insurance applicants.
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- An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test is done to: 1  Check for liver damage. 2  Help identify liver disease, such as hepatitis. 3  Check on the success of treatment for liver disease. 4  Find out whether jaundice was caused by a blood disorder or liver disease. 5  Keep track of the effects of medicines that can damage the liver.
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Summit Medical Group Web Site References. This blood test measures an enzyme called aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Enzymes are chemicals that help the cells of your body work. AST is found in red blood cells, liver cells, and muscle cells, including the heart. It is released into the blood when these cells are damaged.This enzyme is also called serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT. The AST level is measured to check the liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, muscles, and red blood cells. This test is also done to check medical treatments that may affect the liver.t is released into the blood when these cells are damaged. This enzyme is also called serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT. The AST level is measured to check the liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, muscles, and red blood cells. This test is also done to check medical treatments that may affect the liver.
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Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)  [en EspaÃ±ol] Guide. An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. AST is normally found in red blood cells, liver, heart, muscle tissue, pancreas, and kidneys. AST formerly was called serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT). Low levels of AST are normally found in the blood.he amount of AST in the blood is directly related to the extent of the tissue damage. After severe damage, AST levels rise in 6 to 10 hours and remain high for about 4 days. The AST test may be done at the same time as a test for alanine aminotransferase, or ALT.
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- During childhood and the beginning of adulthood, bone becomes larger, heavier and denser, bone formation is then more important than bone resorption. The Bone Mass actually increases until the age of 20, 25 where it reaches its maximum value: the Peak Bone Mass (Maximum Bone Density and Strength).
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HIV and Liver Function Tests Aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) This protein is found primarily in the liver. It is released into the blood when there has been some sort of liver tissue damage. Normal values: less than 35. Elevated: Indicates tissue damage as a result of such things as obstruction, hepatitis, or cirrhosis.
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Understanding Lab Tests: Entire Lesson Hepatitis C. AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is 1 of the 2 liver enzymes.. It is also known as serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT. AST is a protein made by liver cells. When liver cells are damaged, AST leaks out into the bloodstream and the level of AST in the blood becomes higher than normal. AST is different from ALT because AST is found in parts of the body other than the liver--including the heart, kidneys, muscles, and brain. When cells in any of those parts of the body are damaged, AST can be elevated. Explanation of test results: A high AST level often means there is some liver damage, but it is not necessarily caused by hepatitis C. A high AST with a normal ALT may mean that the AST is coming from a different part of the body. It is important to realize that the AST level in most patients with hepatitis C goes up and down.
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Aspartate transaminase Aspartate transaminase (AST) or aspartate aminotransferase, also known as AspAT/ASAT/AAT or serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), is a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent transaminase enzyme (EC 2.6.1.1) that was first described by Arthur Karmen and colleagues in 1954.
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- Test Overview. An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. AST is normally found in red blood cells, liver, heart, muscle tissue, pancreas, and kidneys. AST formerly was called serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT). Low levels of AST are normally found in the blood.
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What does AST on a blood test mean? Confidence votes 159. AST stands for aspartate transaminase. It is an enzyme found in various cells, including liver cells, and elevated levels may indicate liver damage, but must be interpreted in the context of other liver tests, as it is not only found in liver cells, but other cell types as well.
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Elevated transaminases In medicine, the presence of elevated transaminases, commonly the transaminases alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), may be an indicator of liver damage. Other terms employed include transaminasemia and transaminitis, although some sources consider the latter pathologically meaningless.
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Liver function tests Liver transaminases (AST or SGOT and ALT or SGPT) are useful biomarkers of liver injury in a patient with some degree of intact liver function. Most liver diseases cause only mild symptoms initially, but these diseases must be detected early. Hepatic (liver) involvement in some diseases can be of crucial importance.
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What Is an Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Test? Normally, AST levels in your blood are low. When your liver is damaged, it puts more AST into your blood, and your levels rise. A high AST level is a sign of liver damage, but it can also mean you have damage to another organ that makes it, like your heart or kidneys.
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Liver Blood Tests (Normal, Low, and High Ranges & Results) AST (SGOT) is normally found in a variety of tissues including liver, heart, muscle, kidney, and the brain. It is released into the serum when any one of these tissues is damaged. For example, AST level in serum is elevated in heart attacks or with muscle injury. The normal range of values for AST (SGOT) is about 5 to 40 units per liter of serum (the liquid part of the blood).
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Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)  [en EspaÃ±ol] Guide. An aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood. AST is normally found in red blood cells, liver, heart, muscle tissue, pancreas, and kidneys. AST formerly was called serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT). Low levels of AST are normally found in the blood.
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Medical Glossary When the liver is damaged, ALT is released into the blood. This makes ALT a useful test for early detection of liver damage. AST and ALT are considered to be two of the most important tests to detect liver injury, although ALT is more specific to the liver than is AST. Sometimes AST is compared directly to ALT and an AST/ALT ratio is calculated.