Where is aspartate aminotransferase found

You don't need to prepare for this test. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illegal drugs you may use.

Search Encyclopedia. Aspartate Transaminase Does this test have other names? Why do I need this test? You might have this test if you have these symptoms related to liver disease: Dark-colored urine Light or clay-colored stool Yellowing of the skin or eyes jaundice Nausea and vomiting Lack of appetite or weight loss Weakness or tiredness fatigue Itching pruritus Swelling or pain in the belly You may also have this test if you have a family history of liver illness or drink an abnormally large amount of alcohol.

What other tests might I have along with this test? What do my test results mean? If you have abnormally high levels of AST, you might have: Liver disease Muscle injury Heart attack Pancreatitis Extremely high levels of AST may mean you have a disease such as viral hepatitis, liver injury from medicines or toxins, or "shock liver.

How is this test done? Does this test pose any risks? In infectious hepatitis and other inflammatory conditions affecting the liver, alanine aminotransferase ALT is characteristically as high as or higher than AST, and the ALT:AST ratio, which normally and in other condition is less than 1, becomes greater than unity.

AST levels are usually elevated before clinical signs and symptoms of disease appear. Five- to fold elevations of both AST and ALT occur in patients with primary or metastatic carcinoma of the liver, with AST usually being higher than ALT, but levels are often normal in the early stages of malignant infiltration of the liver. Elevated AST values may also be seen in disorders affecting the heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney.

Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, Skip to main content. Register Sign In. Learn what 10 foods you should eat and what 6 foods to avoid. Liver function tests help screen for problems such as infections, scarring, and disorders. They're also used if you start experiencing symptoms of a….

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What is the purpose of the AST test? How is the AST test administered? What are the risks of the AST test? How are the AST test results interpreted?

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