Certain enzymes are present in cardiac muscle that are released when tissue necrosis occurs. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST, formerly oxaloacetic transaminase, or SGOT) is elevated at some time in 90%-95% of acute MI patients (literature range, 87%-97%). These statistics for sensitivity of the AST in acute MI are based on multiple sequential AST determinations and […]
A few comments on the use of liver function tests are indicated. It is not necessary to order every test available and keep repeating them all, even those that give essentially the same information. For example, the ALT is sometimes useful in addition to the AST either to establish the origin of an increased AST […]
This section will review several typical patterns of laboratory values found in liver disease, with their differential diagnosis: 1. An AST value greater than 20 times the upper reference limit. If the AST increase is due to liver disease rather than heart or skeletal muscle injury, this suggests acute hepatitis virus hepatitis. Less common etiologies […]
Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST; formerly SGOT) is an enzyme found in several organs and tissues, including liver, heart, skeletal muscle, and RBCs. AST elevation from nonhepatic sources is discussed elsewhere. AST elevation originating from the liver is due to some degree of acute liver cell injury. Following onset of acute hepatocellular damage from any etiology, […]
