Type of test Blood

 Normal findings

Adult: 0-35 units/L or 0-0.58 μKat/L (SI units); females tend to have slightly lower values than males

Elderly: values slightly higher than adult values

Children:

 0-5 days: 35-140 units/L

< 3 years: 15-60 units/L

3-6 years: 15-50 units/L

 6-12 years: 10-50 units/L

12-18 years: 10-40 units/L

Test explanation and related physiology

Because AST exists within the liver cells, diseases that affect the hepatocytes cause elevated levels of this enzyme. This test is used in the evaluation of suspected hepatocellular diseases. The amount of elevation depends on the time after the injury that the blood is drawn. AST is cleared from the blood in a few days. Serum AST levels become elevated 8 hours after cell injury, peak at 24 to 36 hours, and return to normal in 3 to 7 days. If the cellular injury is chronic, levels will be persistently elevated.

In acute hepatitis, AST levels can rise to 20 times the normal value. In acute extrahepatic obstruction (e.g., gallstones), AST levels quickly rise to 10 times the normal value and fall swiftly. In cirrhotic patients, the level of AST depends on the amount of active inflammation.

Serum AST levels are often compared with alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels. The AST-to-ALT ratio is usually greater than 1.0 in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, liver congestion, or metastatic tumor of the liver. Ratios less than 1.0 may be seen in patients with acute hepatitis, viral hepatitis, or infectious mononucleosis. The ratio is less accurate if AST levels exceed 10 times the normal value.

Patients with acute pancreatitis, acute renal diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, or trauma may have a transient rise in serum AST. Patients with red blood cell abnormalities, such as acute hemolytic anemia and severe burns, also can have elevations of this enzyme.

Interfering factors

• Exercise may cause increased levels.

• Pyridoxine deficiency (beriberi or pregnancy), severe long standing liver disease, uremia, or diabetic ketoacidosis may cause decreased levels.

* Drugs that may cause increased levels include antihypertensives, cholinergic agents, coumarin-type anticoagulants, digitalis preparations, erythromycin, hepatotoxic medications, isoniazid, methyldopa, opiates, oral contraceptives, salicylates, statins, and verapamil.

Procedure and patient care

• See inside front cover for Routine Blood Testing.

• Fasting: no

• Blood tube commonly used: red

• If possible, avoid giving the patient any IM injection because increased enzyme levels may result.

• Record the time and date of any IM injection given.

• Record the exact time and date when the blood test is per formed. This aids in the interpretation of the temporal pattern of enzyme elevations.

Abnormal findings

 Increased levels

 Liver diseases

- Hepatitis

- Hepatic cirrhosis

- Drug-induced liver injury

- Hepatic metastasis

- Hepatic necrosis (initial stages only)

- Hepatic surgery

- Infectious mononucleosis with hepatitis

- Hepatic infiltrative process (e.g., tumor)

- Skeletal muscle disveases

 Skeletal muscle trauma

- Recent noncardiac surgery

- Multiple traumas

- Severe, deep burns

- Progressive muscular dystrophy

- Recent convulsions

- Heat stroke

- Primary muscle diseases (e.g., myopathy, myositis)

 Other diseases

-Acute hemolytic anemia

- Acute pancreatitis

Decreased levels

- Acute renal disease

- Beriberi

- Diabetic ketoacidosis

- Pregnancy

- Chronic renal dialysis

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

قسم شؤون المعارف يطلق دورة (صفات الشيعة) لعدد من ملاكات العتبة العباسية المقدسة

الهيأة العليا لإحياء التراث تبحث تعزيز التعاون المشترك مع مركز الإمام الباقر (عليه السلام) في إيران

جامعة الكفيل تكرِّم طلبتها المتميزين من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة

فريق طبي في مستشفى الكفيل يجري عملية ناجحة لطفل يعاني من تشوّه ولاديّ بالنخاع الشوكي

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

خصوصا مع تقدم السن.. 6 سلوكيات يومية قد تدمّر صحتك

فاكهة خضراء.. علاج طبيعي فعّال للإمساك واضطرابات الهضم

روسيا تبدأ أولى التجارب السريرية للقاح واعد ضد السرطان

كنز غذائي على طبقك.. ماذا تفعل السبانخ بجسمك؟

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

رصد نوع نادر من القطط في تايلاند للمرة الأولى منذ عقود

روسيا تخطط لإقامة محطة نووية في القمر خلال العقد المقبل

كيف قاد إيلون ماسك حملة "غروك" لاختراق عرش الذكاء الاصطناعي

ألتمان: الذكاء الاصطناعي سيتجاوز البشر في 2026 !

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

marijuana (THC) test (Cannabinoid or cannabis testing, Tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] testing)

lung cancer molecular testing (AKT1, ALK, BRAF, Epidermal growth factor [EGFR], HER2, KRAS, MEK1, MET, NRAS, PIK3CA, RET, and ROS1)

kidney stone analysis (Urinary stone analysis, Renal calculus analysis)

Variability and Standardization of CSF Examination

Lab Diagnosis of Yellow fever

hexosaminidase (Hexosaminidase A, Hex A, Total hexosaminidase, Hexosaminidase A and B)

hemoglobin electrophoresis (Hgb electrophoresis)

growth hormone stimulation test (GH provocation test, Insulin tolerance test [ITT], Arginine test, Glucagon Stimulation test)

Markers of Bone Resorption: Amino and Carboxy-Terminal Telopeptides of Collagen Type I

Markers of Bone Resorption: Collagen Cross-Links

Bone Formation Markers : Osteocalcin

Diagnosis of Prion Disease