What does it mean to have high AST and Alt?

What does it mean to have high AST and Alt?

If you have high levels of AST and/or ALT, it may mean that you have some type of liver damage. You may also have an AST test part of a series of liver function tests. In addition to AST and ALT, liver function tests measure other enzymes, proteins, and substances in the liver. American Liver Foundation. [Internet].

What should the AST / ALT ratio be for fatty liver disease?

However, the AST/ALT ratio is usually 1.0 or less in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients with a history of alcohol abuse but no significant alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver usually have an AST/ALT ratio less than 1.0.

What do you need to know about the AST test?

What is an AST test? AST (aspartate aminotransferase) is an enzyme that is found mostly in the liver, but also in muscles. When your liver is damaged, it releases AST into your bloodstream. An AST blood test measures the amount of AST in your blood. The test can help your health care provider diagnose liver damage or disease.

Is the AST ALT ratio of alcohol reversible?

It can be reversible when treated with total alcohol abstinence. Alcoholic hepatitis and AST ALT are found together – the elevated ratio of these enzymes is highly indicative of this disease. Cirrhosis of the liver – the irreversible, final stage of liver damage.

What does a high AST and ALT ratio mean?

However, it should be noted that most patients with high alcohol consumption but without severe liver disease often do not have an AST/ALT ratio above 1, which means that a high ratio could probably be a result of advanced alcoholic liver disease.

What is the normal level of AST in the liver?

Liver Support #10. Liver Support Normal serum AST is 14-20 IU per liter in men and 10-36 IU per liter in women. When a blood test for AST indicates elevation above normal range, the indication is that damage may be present to one of the organs where AST is normally found.

When to take a blood test for AST and Alt?

You’ll need to know your AST and ALT levels, as determined by a bloodtest. Preparation: You should not eat for 12-14 hrs before the test. Your blood sample should be collected between 7 and 10 AM. Your physician may include these tests in your regular check-ups, regardless of the presence any liver insufficiency symptoms.

What kind of disease can cause elevated AST levels?

Diseases of the liver that can produce elevated AST levels range from fatty liver disease (which is relatively harmless in itself and normally asymptomatic, but still a cause for concern because it may represent an early stage of something more serious), to potentially life-threatening illnesses such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.