Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST, SGOT)

Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) test is used to detect damage to cells, particularly assessing the liver condition. When our liver gets damaged or the muscles, brain, heart, or kidneys are not functioning properly, AST leaks into the bloodstream and the levels get elevated. Your doctor may order this test if you’re at high risk of developing liver problems. Your liver plays important roles in your body, including making proteins and removing toxins. The increased risk of having a liver problem is heavy alcohol or drug usage, being overweight and hepatitis.

AST is found in other parts of the body whereas alanine aminotranferase (ALT) is more concentrated in the liver, so if AST is high while ALT is normal, it can be a sign of a problem outside the liver.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme which is found in most of the body cells but mainly in the heart and liver. It is also present in kidneys and muscles but in smaller amounts. Normally, the levels of AST are low, but the levels rise when there is an injury to cells of the liver or muscle.

The function of the liver is to process the nutrients of the body. It also produces bile which helps in digesting fats along with the production of other important proteins such as blood clotting factors and albumin. The liver breaks the potentially toxic substances into harmless products which can be used or eliminated by the body.

The rise in levels of AST can be due to conditions causing liver damage such as hepatitis, drugs which are toxic to liver, cirrhosis, or alcoholism. The AST test is not specific for the liver. Its levels may also rise in conditions which affect other parts of the body.

This test is done with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test. Both the enzymes are found in the liver and their levels rise in case of liver damage. The ratio of AST/ALT helps in differentiating between the causes of liver damage in case of injury to heart or muscle.