AST (asparate aminotransferase)
Edited by: Joe Hing Kwok Chu
A liver enzyme that plays a role in protein metabolism, like ALT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase). Elevated serum levels of AST are a sign of liver damage from disease, like hepatitis B or C, or from drugs.
Extreme Elevation:
- Acute stage of severe, sudden onset of hepatitis
- Severe liver necrosis
- Skeletal muscle damage
- Acute myocardial infarction (level determined by size of infarction and by time between onset to infarct and drawing of blood sample)
Minor Elevation:
- Chronic hypokalemia (CPK levels elevated too)
- Morphine and meperidine may cause temporary elevations
- Warfarin or large doses of salicylate (occasionally)
- Congestive heart failure
- Tachyarrhythmias in the presence of shock
- Pericarditis
- Pulmonary infarction
- Dissecting aneurysm
- Cirrhosis
- Cholangiolitic jaundice
- Metastatic liver disease
- Skeletal muscle disease
- Post traumatic state
- Generalized infections (such as infectious mononucleosis)
See herb therapy to lower AST and ALT
See Chinese herb therapy for hepatitis B.