Today, each of us can go to the laboratory and donate blood to see if there are any serious deviations in health, and if any, to start treatment on time. If, after receiving the results of the analysis, it is found that all indicators are more or less normal, but AST is elevated in the blood, then the questions immediately arise: how dangerous is this, what are the three capital mysterious letters and many other associated questions. Our article will help get answers to them.
What is AST
Aspartate aminotransferase, or AST for short, is the name of an enzyme that is part of absolutely all the cellular structures of our body. But the largest amount of aspartate aminotransferase is in the myocardium and skeletal muscle, then in the liver cells, in the nervous tissue, and in the kidneys. If the body is normal, then the activity indicators of AST in the blood are quite low.
But with damage to various organs or systems of the body, the enzyme begins to be released and enter the bloodstream. Thus, during biochemical analysis, it becomes clear that AST is increased in the blood - this gives the doctor a reason to suspect the onset of destructive processes in the cells. The enzyme aspartate aminotransferase is necessary for the proper functioning of cells. It performs transport functions by delivering groups of atoms to various amino acids.
Normal AST
Normal indicators for the optical determination method (in ME) look like this:
- in women - up to 35 IU;
- in men - up to 41 IU;
- in children - up to 50 IU.
Wrightman-Frenkel reaction (mcol / h / ml):
- in women - up to 0.35;
- in men - up to 0.45;
- in children - up to 0.5.
If blood biochemistry showed AST not exceeding the indicated values, this indicates that the enzyme systems of the heart, liver, and kidneys are functioning normally, and the cellular composition of the organs is not damaged. If there are deviations in the analyzes and if it is found that AST is elevated in the blood, other specific markers (troponins, creatine phosphokinase, ALT, etc.) should be checked.
I must say that different laboratories can use different reagents and research methods. Therefore, the results obtained in different places may vary slightly from each other.
Increased AST in the blood: causes
If the level of the enzyme in the blood is elevated, then this may indicate the presence of any disease from the following list:
- myocardial infarction is one of the most common causes of too high AST levels, and the larger the area of myocardial damage, the higher the concentration of the aspartate aminotransferase enzyme in the blood;
- open or closed heart injury;
- rheumatic heart disease;
- angina pectoris;
- autoimmune or infectious myocarditis;
- bile duct cancer;
- liver cancer;
- liver damage by metastases ;
- cholestasis;
- alcoholic hepatosis ;
- fatty hepatosis;
- viral hepatitis;
- toxic liver damage;
- heart failure;
- extensive destruction of muscle tissue (crash syndrome, generalized myositis, myodystrophy);
- acute pancreatitis.
Also, if AST is increased in the blood, this can be observed with injuries to skeletal muscles, with severe alcohol intoxication, burns, heat stroke, emboli in blood vessels and poisoning by poisonous mushrooms.
A slight increase in the AST level occurs with strong physical exertion and while taking certain pharmacological drugs (sedatives, antibiotics, etc.).
What can I find out when determining the level of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood
In the event that the AST in the blood is slightly increased (about 5 times), then this is probably due to fatty hepatosis, the use of certain drugs (barbiturates, statins, antibiotics, drugs, chemotherapy drugs, etc.).
A moderate, average increase in the enzyme (up to ten times higher than normal) can be caused by chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis, myocardial infarction, myocardiostrophy, processes that occur with damage to kidney and lung cells, mononucleosis, and cancer.
If AST in the blood is significantly increased (10 times or more) - this tells the doctor that the patient may have acute hepatitis, toxic damage to the liver structures, drug-induced hepatitis (acute), and this may also indicate a course in the body processes accompanied by tissue necrosis (for example, with tumors).
At the beginning of the disease, in its acute stage, when the process of tissue destruction is the fastest, the highest level of aspartate aminotransferase is observed. A decrease in serum AST means the beginning of restoration processes in the cells of organs and the recovery of the patient. Minor excesses are not a sign of tissue damage.
What can distort the analysis results
Sometimes the doctor, seeing that AST in the blood is elevated, but not finding any visible signs of the disease in the patient, recommends that he donate blood again, and this additional analysis shows the normal level of the enzyme. With a detailed questioning, it turns out that the patient on the eve of the first blood donation was taking medications, which influenced the correctness of the indicators. To avoid such situations, you need to know what can distort the result:
- Reception of some pharmaceuticals. It is important to inform the doctor of all medications taken. The doctor may prohibit the use of certain medications for several days before blood donation.
- The use of herbal remedies: echinacea or valerian.
- The intake of large doses of vitamin A.
- Pregnancy.
- Severe allergy.
- Catheterization or recent heart surgery.
If AST in the blood is elevated, the causes may be different, sometimes even unexpected. In order not to waste time afterwards due to incorrect results, it is not recommended to donate blood for examination within several hours after passing the following procedures:
- fluorography;
- rectal examination;
- Ultrasound
- physiotherapy;
- radiography.
How is a blood AST test performed
A blood test, whether the enzyme level is elevated or not, is done in the following sequence: to determine the content of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood, a biochemical study is necessary. Material is taken from a vein only in the morning and only on an empty stomach.
First, the nurse places a tourniquet on the arm above the elbow, then a needle is inserted into the vein and approximately 15-20 ml of blood is taken. The tourniquet is then removed and a cotton swab is applied to the injection site. The patient is told to bend his arm at the elbow and firmly hold the injection site to stop the blood flow. You can sit for a few minutes and then go home.
And in the collected blood with the help of a centrifuge, plasma is separated, the necessary chemicals are produced. reaction and AST activity is determined. Results are usually ready the very next day. It is better not to deal with the self-decoding of the results handed over to hands, this should be done by the doctor.
Increased aspartate aminotransferase: what treatment is needed?
It is important to understand that if an analysis was made and it was confirmed that AST in the blood was greatly increased, then this could not happen just like that, by itself. This is due to the presence of any pathology in the body, with the destruction of the structures of the liver, heart muscle or other tissues. And this means that it is impossible to lower AST without treating a disease that caused a jump in enzyme concentration.
Therefore, the main task of the attending physician will be to find, in the case when AST in the blood is increased, the reasons for this. That is, the speedy diagnosis comes to the fore, and then the appointment of treatment. After elimination of the disease, the level of aspartate aminotransferase will also decrease.
How to properly prepare for the analysis of the content of AST
To make the test results more reliable, it is necessary to donate blood on an empty stomach. And at least 8 hours should pass after the last meal. It is very important one day before going to the laboratory to give up alcohol, from fatty and fried, as well as to avoid both physical and emotional or mental overload. In the morning before analysis, you can drink only pure water, but in no case do not drink coffee, juices or teas - this can negatively affect the blood test.
AST is increased or not, they find out no earlier than seven days after referral for analysis, so that there is time for preparation. One or better two weeks before the study, experts strongly recommend that you refuse to take medication. In the event that it is not possible to fulfill this requirement, it is imperative to inform your doctor about this so that when decrypting the analysis data, he makes the necessary amendments or sets the procedure for another day. If there is an allergy or pregnancy, then this should also be reported to the doctor.
Indications for analysis
The described analysis is prescribed for certain diseases:
- Acute or chronic heart disease.
- All liver diseases.
- Circulatory system diseases.
- Infections
- Renal failure.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Encephalopathy of incomprehensible etiology.
- Violations of bilirubin metabolism and different types of jaundice.
- Pathology purulent-septic.
- Pancreatitis is chronic.
- Gallstone disease and impaired outflow of bile.
- Malignant tumors.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Skin diseases caused by allergies.
- Preparing for serious surgery.
- Injuries to the chest or abdomen.
In addition, it is prescribed for assessing the dynamics in the treatment of cardiac and hepatic pathologies and while taking antibiotics (long-term), various toxic agents, as well as chemotherapy drugs.
About ALT
What is the increased AST in the blood, we found out the causes of this phenomenon. Now let's talk about an equally important indicator. Usually, when prescribing a biochemical blood test, the doctor wants to see not only the level of AST, but also the content of another enzyme - ALT.
This is alanine aminotransferase, which, like AST, is present in the cells of all organs, but its largest amount is in the liver and kidneys. When problems arise in the liver, ALT enters the bloodstream. Its increase allows you to diagnose serious liver diseases even before the appearance of jaundice - a characteristic symptom of various hepatitis. Therefore, the increased content of ALT in the blood by doctors is interpreted as an indication of damage to the named organ.
If a person has passed blood for biochemical analysis, AST and ALT are elevated, then this may mean that serious destructive processes occur in the body. Recall that both enzymes enter the blood in increased quantities only if there is a destruction of cellular structures. This does not necessarily indicate the presence of a disease. The correct conclusions can only be made by a doctor, after additional diagnostic procedures. There is no need to panic, but it is also not worth delaying a visit to the doctor.
Final word
Increased ALT and AST in the blood is not yet a sentence, even if these indicators are much higher than normal. The main thing is a timely diagnosis and treatment under the guidance of an experienced specialist. We wish you all good tests and good health!