Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), also known as serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), is an enzyme found in various tissues throughout the body, with particularly high levels in the liver, heart, skeletal muscle, kidneys, and brain. AST plays a crucial role in amino acid metabolism, specifically in the reversible transfer of an amino group between aspartate and alpha-ketoglutarate to form oxaloacetate and glutamate.
Like ALT, AST is released into the bloodstream when cells containing it are damaged or destroyed. Therefore, elevated levels of AST in the blood can indicate tissue damage, though AST elevation is not as specific to liver damage as ALT. Some common causes of elevated AST levels include:
Liver damage or disease: Conditions such as hepatitis (viral, alcoholic, autoimmune), liver cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer can cause elevated AST levels.
Heart damage: Myocardial infarction (heart attack), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), congestive heart failure, and other heart conditions can lead to increased AST levels due to damage to cardiac muscle cells.
Skeletal muscle injury: Trauma, strenuous exercise, muscle diseases (such as muscular dystrophy), and certain medications can cause muscle damage and release AST into the bloodstream.
Kidney damage: Acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease can lead to elevated AST levels.
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can cause leakage of AST into the bloodstream.
AST levels are commonly measured through blood tests, often as part of liver function tests (LFTs) or cardiac enzyme tests. Interpretation of AST levels should be done in conjunction with other laboratory parameters and clinical findings to determine the underlying cause of tissue damage. While AST elevation can indicate liver or heart damage, it is essential to consider the clinical context and other diagnostic information to make an accurate assessment.
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