Ads
related to: elevated ast blood levels and what they mean in women- NASH With Fibrosis
Learn about the basics of NASH
on the official HCP website.
- Learn More Today
Explore NASH, uncover the risks,
and stay informed.
- Sign Up For Updates
Stay informed on the latest
NASH news and information.
- About NASH
Learn more about the consequences
of NASH and patient management.
- NASH With Fibrosis
Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
In medicine, the presence of elevated transaminases, commonly the transaminases alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), may be an indicator of liver dysfunction. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Other terms include transaminasemia , [ 3 ] and elevated liver enzymes (though they are not the only enzymes in the liver).
The AST/ALT ratio increases in liver functional impairment. In alcoholic liver disease, the mean ratio is 1.45, and mean ratio is 1.33 in post necrotic liver cirrhosis. Ratio is greater than 1.17 in viral cirrhosis, greater than 2.0 in alcoholic hepatitis, and 0.9 in non-alcoholic hepatitis.
Serum AST level, serum ALT (alanine transaminase) level, and their ratio (AST/ALT ratio) are commonly measured clinically as biomarkers for liver health. The tests are part of blood panels. The half-life of total AST in the circulation approximates 17 hours and, on average, 87 hours for mitochondrial AST. [4]
The proportion of AST to ALT in hepatocytes is about 2.5:1, but because AST is removed from serum by the liver sinusoidal cells twice as quickly (serum half-life t 1/2 = 18 hr) compared to ALT (t 1/2 = 36 hr), so the resulting serum levels of AST and ALT are about equal in healthy individuals, resulting in a normal AST/ALT ratio around 1.
AST and ALT blood levels are both elevated, but at less than 300 IU/liter, with an AST:ALT ratio > 2.0, a value rarely seen in other liver diseases. [51] In the United States, 40% of cirrhosis-related deaths are due to alcohol. [32] In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), fat builds up in the liver and eventually causes scar tissue. [52]
Get AOL Mail for FREE! Manage your email like never before with travel, photo & document views. Personalize your inbox with themes & tabs. You've Got Mail!
[70] [71] Generally, AST and ALT are elevated in most cases of hepatitis regardless of whether the person shows any symptoms. [32] The degree of elevation (i.e. levels in the hundreds vs. in the thousands), the predominance for AST vs. ALT elevation, and the ratio between AST and ALT are informative of the diagnosis. [32]
[citation needed] Elevated ALT may also be caused by dietary choline deficiency. [citation needed] However, elevated levels of ALT do not automatically mean that medical problems exist. Fluctuation of ALT levels is normal over the course of the day, and they can also increase in response to strenuous physical exercise. [9]
Ads
related to: elevated ast blood levels and what they mean in women