Determination of asts in the blood. What are ALT and AST and what is the norm for blood levels in women? In case of doubtful analyzes, send to

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme normally found in the liver, heart, pancreas, kidney, muscle, and red blood cells. A very small amount of AST (0 - 42 international units per liter, IU / l) is also found in the blood. When internal organs or muscles are damaged (for example, during a heart attack or a car accident), the level of AST in the blood increases. Blood levels of AST and other enzymes (such as aminotransferase or ALT) are often measured to detect possible damage to the liver and other organs and tissues. If the liver is damaged, AST levels can be lowered through lifestyle changes, herbal supplements, and medications.


Attention: this article is for informational purposes only. Before using prescriptions, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1

Lowering AST Levels with Natural Remedies

    Limit your alcohol intake. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to an increase in AST levels, since ethyl alcohol damages liver cells. If you drink alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, cocktails, etc.) from time to time and in small quantities, this does not lead to a significant change in the level of AST and other enzymes. However, even moderate drinking (more than two servings a day) over a long period of time or regular weekend drinking will certainly affect the concentration of enzymes.

    Get rid of excess weight with a low-calorie diet. This will reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, in addition, limiting daily calorie intake will help reduce AST levels. Scientists believe that reducing body weight and consuming less refined sugar, saturated fat, and preservatives can reduce the burden on the liver and speed up the repair of its cells, resulting in a decrease in AST levels. Typically, low-calorie diets are lower in saturated fat and refined sugar and higher in lean protein, fish, whole grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits.

    Include some coffee in your diet. A 2014 study showed that regular moderate consumption of regular or decaffeinated coffee promotes liver health and lowers blood levels of liver enzymes, including AST. It is likely that chemicals in coffee (besides caffeine) help protect and repair liver cells. Scientists suggest that the antioxidants contained in coffee have a positive effect on the liver and other organs.

    • Those participants in the experiment who drank three or more cups of coffee a day had lower levels of liver enzymes compared to those who did not drink coffee at all.
    • Preliminary studies have shown that moderate coffee consumption may help reduce the chances of diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease such as cirrhosis and cancer.
    • If you want to lower your AST levels and recover from liver disease, it's best to drink decaffeinated coffee to avoid the side effects associated with drinking a lot of caffeine (sleep disturbance, irritability, digestive disorders, and so on).

  1. Consider taking milk thistle (milk thistle) supplements. Milk thistle has a long history as a remedy for many health problems, including diseases of the liver, kidneys, and gallbladder. Chemical compounds found in milk thistle (particularly silymarin) have been shown to help protect the liver from toxins and stimulate the growth of new liver cells, according to some studies. In addition, silymarin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, research results are inconsistent, and it remains unclear how much silymarin is needed to reduce blood levels of AST and other liver enzymes. Due to the few side effects, it is worth trying milk thistle - this natural remedy will help with liver diseases, even if it does not lead to a drop in AST levels.

    Try taking turmeric powder supplements. This herbal preparation has undergone many clinical trials. It has a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, which helps in the treatment of many organs, including the liver. The most valuable ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to help reduce high levels of liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in both animals and humans. To significantly change the level of liver enzymes, you need to take about 3,000 milligrams of turmeric powder daily for an extended period of time (up to 12 weeks).

    • Turmeric (curcumin) is also believed to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer of various organs.
    • Popular in Indian and Asian cuisines, curry powder is high in turmeric, which gives it its rich yellow color.

    Part 2

    Drug methods to reduce the level of AST

    1. Consult your doctor. As a rule, the doctor prescribes a blood test for the content of AST and ALT if he suspects problems with the liver. Common symptoms of liver inflammation, injury, injury, or disease include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, swelling and tenderness in the upper right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness and fatigue, confusion, and confusion consciousness, drowsiness. When making a diagnosis, the doctor will take into account the level of liver enzymes in combination with other symptoms, as well as the results of an examination, other studies (ultrasound, MRI) and possibly a biopsy (analysis of a tissue sample) of the liver.

    2. Talk to your doctor about stopping certain medications. Almost all medications can harm the liver and lead to increased levels of liver enzymes (including AST) in the blood. The dosage and duration of taking a particular drug is important. Like alcohol, all drugs are broken down in the liver, which can lead to liver overload. Some drugs (or their degradation products) are more toxic to the liver than others. For example, statins (taken to lower blood cholesterol levels) and paracetamo are more harmful to the liver than most other drugs.

      • If you have elevated AST levels and are taking statins and/or paracetamol, talk with your doctor about switching to other drugs or treatments that can lower your cholesterol and/or relieve chronic pain. At the very least, you can reduce the dose you take.
      • Once you stop taking drugs that are toxic to your liver, your AST levels will drop within a few weeks.
      • The accumulation of a large amount of iron in the body (called hemochromatosis) can also lead to an increased level of liver enzymes. This can happen if you get iron injections for iron deficiency anemia.
      • Under normal liver function and compliance with the dosage, paracetamol is not toxic. Follow the dosage indicated in the instructions and the doctor's instructions.

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, AsAT, AST) is an enzyme necessary for the synthesis of amino acids, the metabolism of nutrients and the structure of cells and tissues. It is produced intracellularly and is located mostly in the myocardium (heart muscle), less in the liver, nervous tissue, kidneys, body muscles.

In a healthy person, almost all AST enzymes are found in tissues, their amount in the blood is minimal. An increase in AST in a biochemical blood test indicates a disease associated with cell destruction. Moreover, the fact that AST does not show its activity in all organs gives grounds, having received an analysis result that is different from the norm, to immediately assume a narrow circle of conditions that can cause this. So, AST in a blood test: what is it, the norm and what conclusions can be drawn based on the result, let's talk today.

What is AST in a blood test?

When examining blood for AST, sampling is performed from a vein. An elevated AST value may be a symptom of a serious illness, but at the same time, an analysis for this enzyme should be done during treatment to assess the results achieved.

The AST indicator in a biochemical blood test is necessary when assessing the following conditions:

  • myocardial infarction;
  • Formation of metastases in tissues;
  • Oncology;
  • Hepatitis;
  • autoimmune diseases;
  • Mononucleosis;
  • Steatosis;
  • Cirrhosis of the liver.

When is an AST analysis prescribed?

We can assume a deviation from the norm of aspartate aminotransferase in men
and women who complain of the following symptoms:

  • Nausea (up to vomiting);
  • Painful feeling of weakness;
  • Discomfort and pain in the abdomen;
  • Yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes;
  • bloating;
  • Sharp pain in the heart, radiating to the left half of the body;
  • Regular appearance of dark urine;
  • Chair lighting.

The norm of AST in the blood

The average activity of AST in women is slightly lower than in men. This explains the lower value of the AST norm in women in the blood. There is also a dependence of the AST norm on age in children under 16 years of age. This is due to the restructuring and formation of all organs. After birth, AST changes significantly literally by days and weeks. The rate of analysis also depends on the specific laboratory and equipment used.

The accepted optimal values ​​of ACT are as follows:

From birth: 25-70 units / l;

up to a year: no more than 58 units / l;

1-4 years old: no more than 59 units / l;

5-7 years old: no more than 48 units / l;

8-13 years old: no more than 44 units / l;

13-16 years old: no more than 39 units / l;

  • Men

The norm of AST in men in the blood should not exceed 41 units per liter;

  • Women

For most blood tests, AST is normally no more than 31 units per liter in women. At the same time, during pregnancy, the norm of AST in women in the blood decreases by another 10%, but a false increase can also occur as a result of the release of AST into the blood from erythrocytes.

ACAT blood test deviations

In addition to diseases, an increase in the analysis may be caused by the lack of preparation of the patient for blood donation. If you want to get a reliable result, consider these rules:

  • The day before going to the laboratory, refrain from excessive physical exertion;
  • Give up alcohol at least a week before going to a medical facility;
  • Taking foreign medications, especially such as antibiotics, large amounts of vitamin A, valerian and echinacea in various forms, is undesirable. If it is not possible to exclude these drugs, it is necessary to inform the health worker about this.
  • At least half an hour before donating blood for analysis, refrain from smoking.
  • The analysis is taken in the morning, on an empty stomach, that is, from the moment of the last meal, it is recommended to wait 8-12 hours.
  • In the morning before donating blood, try to limit yourself from psycho-emotional stress and muscle stress.

But it also happens that all the rules and precautions were followed, and the AST blood test was elevated. Do not rush to attribute a number of diseases to yourself, because deviations in the result can also occur in an absolutely healthy person. For example, AST distortion can be provoked by:

  • burns;
  • Injuries;
  • lead poisoning;
  • Mushroom poisoning;
  • Allergy (including to medications);
  • Pregnancy;
  • Intramuscular injections.

ALT blood test: what is it?

ALT is also an enzyme that has the same functions and importance in human life as AST. For most people who want to understand their blood test results, it becomes unclear what AST is in the blood, what is its difference from ALT?

The fact is that AST or aspartate aminotransferase catalyzes the movement and reaction of an amino acid such as aspartate, and ALT favors the movement of another amino acid, alanine. So these terms, which at first glance frighten a person who is not related to medicine, take on a completely understandable meaning: the first part of the word is responsible for the amino acid, the second - denotes a direct function - the transfer (transfer) of functional groups and molecules.

The ratio of ALT and AST has a very important diagnostic value and is called the Ritis coefficient, which was given to him in honor of the scientist, thanks to whom it has found wide application in the medical community.

Ritis ratio (AST/ALT)

If ALT or AST deviate from the value from the norm, the Ritis coefficient begins to have a diagnostic value; in a healthy person, its calculation is not necessary.

The essence of the analysis is simple: ALT is mostly located in the liver and rises in the blood when it is destroyed. AST is located, as mentioned above, in the heart muscle, so that a sharp increase in it can be used to judge heart disease.

Despite the fact that ALT and AST are not located in the same organ, but in a group of tissues, their organ specificity allows analysis to be carried out taking into account the predominant location.

So, with myocardial infarction, AST increases sharply, deviating from the optimal value by 800-1000%, while ALT increases only by 150-200%. Hepatitis affects the blood in a completely different way: ALT increases up to a 20-fold increase in the norm, and AST can increase by only 2-4 times.

Healthy people have a Ritis coefficient of 0.9-1.8. With a coefficient equal to two or more, it is necessary to conduct a further examination of the heart muscle. If the ratio of AST / ALT becomes less than 1, the doctor may assume the destruction of liver cells as a result of hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Aspartate aminotransferase is lowered, what does this mean?

The amount of AST enzymes in the blood cannot be too low, since the situation when AST is not observed in the blood plasma is also considered the norm. As you can see from the AST reference values ​​above, only the maximum value is adjusted.

Too low an AST value can alert the doctor to a deficiency in vitamin B6, which is also involved in enzyme reactions, or extensive liver damage.

AST carries important information about the health of the patient and the state of his tissues, but in order to prevent misinterpretation of the results, it is necessary not to make assumptions on your own, but to consult a doctor.

If you still have questions about what AST is in a biochemical blood test or want to express an opinion on a topic of discussion, leave comments below. Share useful information with friends and family.

Why, at the very first visit to the hospital, to any doctor, from a general practitioner to a highly specialized specialist, the patient is immediately sent for a blood test? Because it is by the biochemical study of blood that you can find out about the presence of pathologies in the body. Even if there are no other obvious signs of a disease that is emerging and developing in a patient, even if the disease has not yet had a serious impact on organs and systems, certain indicators will already be changed in “biochemistry”. And this will prompt the doctor to suspect the presence of pathology. And if necessary, the doctor will send the patient for further examination in order to prescribe the required treatment.

One of the main indicators of a biochemical blood test is ALT (or AlAT) and AST (or AsAT). Any increase or decrease in these indices indicates that something is going wrong in the human body. What exactly can be indicated by the fact that ALT and AST are elevated, and what treatment is prescribed for such indications?

One of the main indicators of a biochemical blood test - ALT and AST

What is ALT and AST

First you need to answer the main question: what are alt and ast? The full medical name for these indicators is aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and ALAT, called alanine aminotransferase. As doctors say, the enzymes AST and ALT (also sometimes referred to as transaminase) are active participants in the metabolism in the human body. In simple terms, what is it? ALT "lives" in hepatocytes (liver cells) and, together with other participants in the process, breaks down the amino acid alanine. Liver enzymes - this is the name of this substance.

AST is responsible for what? This enzyme also "works" on the breakdown of amino acids, but only aspartic. And it is mainly found in the tissues of the heart muscle.

What does the deviation of the level of these enzymes from normal values ​​during the measurement show?

The ALT index rises if there are any malfunctions in the liver or some pathologies of this gland occur. Also in medicine, there are cases when an increase in the level of this enzyme in the blood indicated developing diseases of the kidneys, skeletal muscles and tissues of the nervous system.

AST is considered a marker of myocardial destruction. If this indicator in the blood test deviates in a positive direction, then it is urgently necessary to monitor the work of the heart.

Preparation for analysis

ALT and AST blood test is given, like the rest of the "biochemistry", on an empty stomach

According to doctors, special preparation for donating blood for these indicators is not required. ALT and AST blood test is given, like the rest of the "biochemistry", on an empty stomach. It is essential that the patient does not eat for at least 12 hours prior to blood donation. Also, at least two days before the analysis, you can not drink alcohol, smoke for 10-12 hours. In addition, doctors recommend on the eve of donating blood for research to protect yourself from emotional and physical overload. And you should not go for an analysis immediately after any even the most minimal surgical interventions or after dental treatment.

It should be noted that ALT in hepatitis C is always elevated. And, if the patient is aware that he has been diagnosed with this disease, it is worth warning the doctor and the laboratory assistant who takes the blood. It is also necessary to know that the ALT norm in women is somewhat lower than in the representatives of the stronger sex.

The norm of ALT and AST in the blood

Of course, there is an established ALT and AST norm - indicators in numbers that are characteristic of an average healthy person. There is a special table in which the norms for age and gender are entered. The level of this enzyme is measured in different ways: there are units for measuring indicators in mol, but many laboratories issue research results that indicate data in units / l. We give the norm-indicators that can be seen in adults in the table in these units.

In men, the normal levels of these enzymes in the blood test during life, if the person is healthy, do not change. In representatives of the stronger sex, biochemistry, in the case of order in the body, gives ALT a maximum of 18 units / l, and AST - a maximum of 22 18 units / l.

But women have different norms at different stages of life. So a biochemical blood test in a healthy woman shows ALT no higher than 15, and AST no higher than 17 units / l. Blood from a vein in women who are expecting a baby will give the level of these enzymes slightly lower (by 5-10%) than usual.

The numbers in the transcript of the study in nursing mothers and young ladies who have menstrual bleeding at the time of the test are gradually returning to normal. Although, slight deviations can be observed, for example, in nursing mothers, the level of substances may increase slightly.

But the norm in the blood after 50 years in both men and women remains at the same level as at a young age.

As for children, the highest levels of AST and ALT are recorded in infants. In newborns under the age of one month, ALT is considered to be at the level of 38 units / l, and AST - up to 32. In children under the age of one year, the maximum threshold of AsAT and ALT is fixed at 36 and 27 units (respectively), in children under 16 years - 31 and 22 (respectively).

What does the deviation of the level of these enzymes in the body from the norm indicate? As already mentioned, this indicates one thing: something went wrong with some internal organs and their functions. To understand what kind of failure happened and accurately determine the problem, doctors look at other indicators of a biochemical blood test, and also prescribe additional examinations.

Reasons for the increase

So, what exactly can be evidence of an increase in ALT and AST in the blood? It has already been noted that if ALT and AST are elevated, then this clearly indicates pathologies of the heart and liver and indirectly indicates problems with the kidneys, muscles, blood vessels, and the nervous system.

Reasons why ALT enzyme levels are elevated:

High rates for this substance are given by a blood test for cirrhosis of the liver of various etiologies.

  • High rates for this substance are given by a blood test for cirrhosis of the liver of various etiologies (alcoholic, toxic, arising as a result of other hepatic pathologies), with prolonged and regular use of alcohol, as well as with alcoholic liver damage.
  • A high ALT level indicates the development of acute pancreatitis in a patient.
  • The numbers increased relative to the norm will be in the conclusion of the analysis for acute hepatitis or the chronic development of this disease.
  • Elevated ALT in the analysis may indicate that an oncological neoplasm is progressing in the liver and / or biliary tract. And also about the fact that these organs began to spread metastases of the tumor, "living" in another organ.
  • An increase in the concentration of the substance is observed with fatty hepatosis.
  • The level of this enzyme also increases if the patient develops cholestasis or cholestatic jaundice.
  • Such a development of events is also possible: ALT rises with normal bilirubin. This, as a rule, indicates that the patient is taking various drugs - oral contraceptives, drugs that prevent the development of tumors, chemotherapeutic and psychotropic drugs.
  • ALT levels are also elevated in severe burns.

In this case, the doctor will also pay attention to such a line in the conclusion about the patient's blood test as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Information about the level of this substance can confirm or refute the presence of a particular liver pathology.

Why can there be a high content of ast-enzyme in the blood:

  • The patient has acute myocarditis or myocardial infarction.
  • Increased AST levels can be with serious muscle injuries - sprains, ruptures.
  • It can be elevated ast with hepatitis C and other liver pathologies.
  • The indicator for the enzyme changes to “plus” if the patient is diagnosed with myopathy, myositis, myodystrophy.
  • Unstable angina, as well as pulmonary embolism, can also give an increase in the substance.

An increase in the level of both enzymes at once can be caused by severe physical overwork or a prolonged state of stress in which the patient is.

It is especially dangerous when these indicators were about to be normal, and suddenly increased sharply at 2 by 2 times. This suggests that some kind of negative scenario is developing with dysfunctions of internal organs, and at the same time there is a lack of vital substances for a person.

Reasons for the decline

Low levels of these enzymes in the test results should also alert the patient and the doctor. ALT and AST levels may be below normal in hepatitis, moreover, when the disease is started, when it has not been diagnosed and treated for a long time, and the tissues of the organ have already undergone necrosis.

Also a decrease in ALT and AST means in a biochemical blood test that a person lacks vitamin B6-peredoxin. Usually this condition provokes long-term use of antibiotics.

Indicators in pregnant women and children

As already mentioned, the analysis of ALT, AST, bilirubin in pregnant women may differ from the conclusion of a blood test of a lady who is not expecting a baby. The level of these enzymes in the first trimester of pregnancy, due to changes in the hormonal background, usually slightly increases, and later, in the second and third trimester, it turns out to be slightly below normal. As a rule, this does not lead to anything bad, but is simply caused by the current state of the expectant mother.

But if the situation suddenly gets out of control, and the numbers for enzymes decrease significantly or, conversely, increase catastrophically, the gynecologist leading the pregnancy prescribes additional tests and examinations. This is necessary to exclude the presence of a serious pathology in the mother or the unborn baby. For example, an increase in ALT and AST may indicate the development of preeclampsia, which negatively affects the condition of the mother herself and the fetus.

Deciphering the results by the De Ritis coefficient

In a biochemical study of a patient's blood, there is another very important indicator - the De Ritis coefficient. This is the ratio of AST to ALT, the quantitative ratio of enzymes to each other. Reference values ​​for ALT and AST are 1.33 units. If the patient's indicators are less than these values, then he, for sure, develops some kind of serious hepatic pathology. In the case when the De Ritis coefficient is above the norm, then the patient has problems with the myocardium.

What to do if ALT and AST are above normal

Of course, in a situation where the level of enzymes is above or below normal, it is necessary to take action. As a rule, with such test results, the doctor, if they do not immediately make a diagnosis, then send the patient for an additional examination, after which they prescribe adequate treatment. Usually, when eliminating pathologies that cause an increase in the level of substances, it is possible to automatically lower the indicators. How quickly this happens depends on the correctness of the prescribed therapy and on the response of the patient's body to it.

What to do, if you reduce the numbers in the lines with the inscriptions "ALT" and "AST" in the conclusion of the blood test, it does not work? Perhaps this is due to the fact that the diagnosis is incorrectly made and / or the treatment is incorrectly prescribed. Most likely, in this case, an adjustment of prescriptions and / or a new examination will be required.

Medications

Hepatoprotectors will help restore liver cells

How to reduce the level of enzymes with drugs if they are still high, and the patient has been treated as required, and the patient has absolutely no pathologies at this stage. There are a number of medications available to lower ALT and AST levels. How to effectively lower the level of these enzymes? In this case, hepatoprotectors will help, “working” to restore liver tissues and cells, normalizing its functions; enzymes that “put in order” the stomach and pancreas; heart medicines; and painkillers that relieve spasms.

Of course, self-medication in this case is not worth it. And all drugs must be taken only as prescribed by the attending physician.

A child under the age of 16 has physiologically elevated levels of these substances. A decrease, if everything is in order in the body, occurs as a small patient grows up.

Folk remedies

It is believed that it is possible to normalize the level of these enzymes with folk remedies. To do this, it is recommended to take various liver fees, a decoction of milk thistle, a tincture of dandelion flowers, as well as an infusion of corn stigmas. To maintain the heart, you can drink an infusion of adonis.

Of course, folk remedies are good. But with serious pathologies and serious deviations from the norm, with their help, the result cannot be achieved. They can be used, but only in conjunction with drugs. And only then you can achieve a good result from the therapy.

Diet and prevention

What is the prevention of the occurrence of such deviations in the results of blood tests? Of course, first of all, it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of pathologies and diseases that provoke an increase or decrease in the level of enzymes in the human body. Of course, there must be a rejection of bad habits, the use of alcoholic beverages, some potent and / or illegal drugs, smoking. It is also necessary to lead a correct and healthy lifestyle, which consists in rational and timely nutrition and the organization of moderate and adequate physical activity.

When it is necessary to reduce the content of enzymes in the blood, a reasonable diet should be used along with the medication prescribed by the doctor and auxiliary folk remedies.

In case of pathologies associated with the liver, they recommend a complete rejection of alcohol, fried in oil and fatty, smoked and overly salty, sweet. The patient's diet should consist of the right combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, poultry and lean meats, as well as fish, vegetables and cereals can be eaten. And you need to cook everything for a couple or stew without adding oil.

Video

About the blood test AST and ALT.

Alanine aminotransferase, or ALT, and aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, are enzymes found in body cells that are involved in amino acid metabolism. They are located only in the cells of organ tissues, and enter the bloodstream only when the cell decays due to traumatic injuries or pathologies.

Types of diseases

Excessive content of ALT indicates the development of the pathology of the organ, in the cells of which there is its largest amount. The causes of an increase in alanine aminotransferase are liver pathologies. A feeling of discomfort and pain in the right hypochondrium, diarrhea, icteric staining of the skin and mucous membranes, flatulence, bitter belching are signs of an increase in ALT. When conducting a blood test, an increase in the level of bilirubin joins the increased ALT and AST when hepatitis develops. More often, an increase in the content of ALT indicates the occurrence of other diseases. The concentration of ALT is directly dependent on the severity of the pathology.

The necrotic process in the heart muscle causes the release of these enzymes into the blood. Their increased content in serum also indicates the development of other cardiopathologies: insufficiency, inflammation of the heart muscle. Additionally, the reasons for the increase in the concentration of ALT in the serum may be present in the body injuries, which are associated with damage to muscle tissue, and pancreatitis.

If the ALT and AST blood test (decoding) showed less than twice the normal values, it is necessary to organize observation and a 2-fold examination. This tactic is optimal for patients.

ALT and AST blood test - decoding for some diseases

A slight increase in transferases is indicative of non-alcoholic fatty liver damage, including "fatty liver", non-alcoholic steatohepatosis, and chronic viral hepatitis.

A moderate increase may exist in viral or alcoholic inflammation of the liver and various chronic liver diseases with or without cirrhotic damage.

Elevated levels are typical of severe acute hepatitis, toxic or drug necrosis, shock, or hepatic ischemia.

An excessively high level (more than 2000-3000 U / l) exists with an overdose of acetaminophen and when using the drug in alcohol-dependent patients, with shock and / or hepatic ischemia.

It should be noted that since ALT is located in erythrocytes, it is necessary to prevent their decay when preparing serum for analysis. ALT may decrease if serum is stored for several days.

The role of medicines, herbs and other substances

Careful history taking and interpretation of laboratory results are important to detect drug-induced increases in transferases. Similar liver damage is detected in 1-2% of cases of liver inflammation in a chronic form. They are associated with the use of antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis.

The easiest way to determine the dependence of an increase in aminotransferases with some agent is to cancel it and observe the level of enzymes. Without canceling the remedy, this dependency cannot be determined.

It is a mandatory indicator included in the biochemical blood test. It, along with the ALT enzyme, is also called liver tests, but these indicators indicate not only liver diseases.

Despite the prevalence of biochemical analysis, not everyone knows what the increase in the level of this enzyme means and how to decipher this indicator correctly. The doctor should decipher, since AST is considered in conjunction with other blood indicators.

AST - enzyme functions and assignment for analysis

AST, or aspartate aminotransferase, is involved in protein metabolism. It performs many important functions, one of which is participation in the construction of cell membranes, the synthesis of amino acids.

Helps to know the level of AST blood biochemistry. This enzyme is considered specific. Its increase indicates disturbances in certain tissues in which it is found in the greatest amount. The largest amount of AST is found in tissues, muscles, and nervous tissue. This is due to the fact that the metabolic processes in these tissues are more active, and the cells need constant renewal and maintenance of their structure.

As soon as the cells of these organs begin to break down, the enzyme is actively released into the blood, so its level in the blood serum rises. If the cells remain intact and function normally, then the level of AST remains at a minimum level.

AST is found in the body in two forms: cytoplasmic and mitochondrial.

To release a cytoplasmic enzyme into the blood, it is enough to destroy the outer shell of the cell, therefore, an increased level of this form of AST indicates less serious damage to cells and tissues than an increased level of mitochondrial AST, the release of which requires total destruction of the cell and its organelles.

Since a large amount of the AST enzyme is located in the tissues of the liver and heart, its elevated level most often indicates the pathology of these organs, although it is necessary to assess the state of the body taking into account all indicators.

More information about blood tests for AST and ALT can be found in the video:

Blood for AST is prescribed during pregnancy (a biochemical analysis is given regularly to check the operation of all systems and organs), in the presence of any diseases and the heart, as well as to check the effectiveness of their treatment.

An AST test is indicated for any suspected liver disease, nausea, hepatic colic, or contact with a carrier to check the integrity of the liver cells.The level of AST is determined in various injuries and the chest to detect microdamages in the tissues of the heart and liver, as well as when taking various drugs that show a destructive effect on the tissues of the heart and liver (cancer drugs and strong antidepressants).

Biochemical analysis for AST: preparation and procedure

If a myocardial infarction is suspected, the patient is hospitalized and carefully monitored. At first, this condition may be asymptomatic or accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the chest, pain radiating to the right arm. Treatment of this condition should begin as early as possible to avoid.Treatment, as a rule, is aimed at improving blood flow and blood supply to the myocardium, and eliminating pain. In severe cases, angioplasty is prescribed (replacement of a thrombosed vessel with a healthy one). By following all the doctor's recommendations and timely treatment of serious complications, serious complications can be avoided, and the AST level will return to normal.

In the treatment of viral hepatitis, drug therapy is aimed at removing toxins from the body, improving the outflow of bile, protecting and restoring liver tissue cells.

In the treatment of myocarditis, it is important to limit physical activity, good nutrition, healthy sleep and bed rest for several months.If all the recommendations of the doctor are followed, myocarditis ends with recovery, restoration of the heart muscle, and the level of AST in the blood returns to normal.

Serious diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer are difficult to treat. The effectiveness of therapy largely depends on the stage at which the disease is detected. With cirrhosis, it is important to observe a diet and rest, give up alcohol completely, and also take all possible preventive measures to protect against viral infection. Drug therapy is prescribed depending on the characteristics of the disease and the presence of complications. Hepatoprotective drugs are often prescribed, and indicators are also regularly checked.

Possible Complications

A directly elevated level of AST has no complications, since this is a consequence of the disease, the body's reaction to it, and not the disease itself and not its cause. Pathological conditions that cause elevated blood levels can lead to severe and complications.

Among the most frequent complications of cardiac and hepatic pathologies with elevated AST levels, the following are distinguished:

  • Acute heart failure. Myocardial infarction in severe cases can be complicated by heart failure, which is expressed in a violation of the contractility of the heart muscle. At the same time, the patient feels shortness of breath or suffocation, a strong cough, he has cyanotic skin, foaming from the mouth, wheezing in the chest. In the event of such a serious complication, delay in medical care is fraught with a fatal outcome.
  • Hepatic coma. Hepatic coma can occur with active cell death in viral hepatitis. Symptoms of hepatic coma are not always associated with pain, it often begins with a feeling of anxiety, an unstable emotional state, and apathy. Then there is confusion, tremor of the hands, and finally, elevated body temperature, jaundice, complete loss of consciousness.
  • Myocardial rupture. One of the most common complications of myocardial infarction. The severity of the complication depends on where the rupture occurred. Most often, there is a rupture of the wall of the left ventricle, less often - the right ventricle, and even less often - the interventricular septum. The main symptoms are sharp pain, loss of consciousness, slow pulse, suffocation. In case of myocardial rupture, urgent surgical intervention is necessary, otherwise a fatal outcome is inevitable.
  • Aneurysm of the heart. An aneurysm can also appear as a consequence of myocardial infarction. It manifests itself in the thinning and bulging of the wall of the heart muscle. Most often, such a consequence needs surgical treatment, since the aneurysm can burst at any time.
  • Liver cancer. It often develops against the background of cirrhosis. Liver cells are reborn, which can lead to the formation of malignant tumors.
Similar posts