Increased AST in the blood: causes and treatment

Today each of us can go to the laboratory and donate blood to see if there are any serious abnormalities in health, and if any, take up the treatment in time. If, after receiving the results of the analysis, it is found that all the indicators are more or less normal, but the AST is raised in the blood, then immediately there are questions: how dangerous is it, what three three-letter mysterious letters and many other incidental issues stand for. Our article will help to get answers to them.

What is ACT?

Aspartate aminotransferase, or abbreviated AST, is the name of the enzyme that is part of absolutely all cellular structures of our body. But the most amount of aspartate aminotransferase is found in the myocardium and skeletal muscles, then in liver cells, in nervous tissue, in the kidneys. If the body is normal, then the ACT activity in the blood is low enough.

But with damage to various organs or systems of the body, the enzyme begins to be released and enters the bloodstream. Thus, in biochemical analysis, it becomes clear that AST is elevated 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. He performs transport functions, delivering groups of atoms to various amino acids.

Normal indicators of AST

The normal parameters for the optical method of determination (in ME) look like this:

• In women - up to 35 IU;
• In men - up to 41 IU;
• In children up to 50 IU.

Reitman-Fraenkel reaction (mcmol / h / ml):

• In women - up to 0.35;
• In men - up to 0.45;
• In children - up to 0.5.

If the biochemistry of the blood showed AST not exceeding the indicated values, this indicates that the enzyme systems of the heart, liver, kidneys function normally, and the cellular composition of the organs is not damaged. If there are any abnormalities in the tests and that AST is elevated in the blood, other specific markers (troponins, creatine phosphokinase, ALT, etc.) should be tested.

I must say that different laboratories can use various reagents and methods of research. Therefore, the results obtained in different places may differ slightly from each other.

Increased AST in the blood: causes

If the level of the enzyme in the blood is increased, this may indicate the presence of any disease from the following list:

• Myocardial infarction is one of the most frequent causes of an excessively high level of AST, and the larger the area of myocardial damage, the higher the concentration of the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase in the blood;
• Open or closed trauma to the heart;
• Rheumatic heart disease;
• Angina pectoris;
• Autoimmune or infectious myocarditis;
• Cancer of the bile ducts;
• liver cancer;
• Liver damage by metastases;
• Cholestasis;
• Hepatosis alcoholic;
• Hepatosis fat;
• Viral hepatitis;
• Liver damage toxic;
• heart failure;
• Extensive destruction of muscle tissue (crash syndrome, generalized myositis, myodystrophy);
• Acute pancreatitis.

Also, if AST is elevated in the blood, it can be observed when skeletal muscles are injured, with severe alcohol intoxication, burns, heat stroke, embolus in the vessels and poisoning with poisonous fungi.

Slight elevation of the AST level occurs with strong physical exertion and during the intake of some pharmacological drugs (sedatives, antibiotics, etc.).

What can be learned when determining the level of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood

In the event that AST in the blood is increased slightly (about 5 times), then perhaps it is due to fatty hepatosis, the use of certain medicines (barbiturates, statins, antibiotics, drugs, chemotherapy drugs, etc.).

Moderate, average increase in enzyme (up to ten times higher than normal) can be caused by chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis, myocardial infarction, myocardiostrophy, processes involving damage to kidney and lung cells, mononucleosis, cancer.

If the AST is greatly increased in the blood (10 times or more) - this tells the doctor that the patient can have hepatitis virus in the acute stage, toxic damage to the liver structures, drug-induced hepatitis (acute), and also it may indicate a course in the body Processes, accompanied by tissue necrosis (for example, in tumors).

At the onset of the disease, in its acute stage, when the process of tissue destruction is fastest, the highest level of aspartate aminotransferase is observed. Reduction of AST in serum means the beginning of regenerative processes in the cells of the organs and recovery of the patient. Minor excesses of the norm are not a sign of destruction in tissues.

What can distort the results of the analysis?

Sometimes the doctor, seeing that AST is elevated in the blood, but not finding any visible signs of the disease in the patient, encourages him to give blood again, and this additional analysis shows the normal level of the enzyme. When detailed questioning it turns out that the patient on the eve of the first delivery of blood took medication, which influenced the correctness of the indicators. To avoid such situations, you need to know what can distort the result:

1. Acceptance of some pharmaceuticals. It is important to inform the doctor about all medications taken. The doctor may prohibit the taking of certain medicines several days before blood donation.
2. The use of herbal remedies: echinacea or valerian.
3. The ingestion of large doses of vitamin A.
4. Pregnancy.
5. Severe allergy.
6. A catheterization or a recent heart operation.

If the AST in the blood is increased, the reasons can be different, sometimes even unexpected. In order not to worry afterwards because of incorrect results, it is not recommended to donate blood for a few hours after the following procedures:

• Fluorography;
• Rectal examination;
• Ultrasound;
• Physiotherapy;
• Radiography.

How is the ACT blood test performed?

The blood test, the level of the enzyme is increased or not, it is done in the following order: a biochemical study is needed to determine the content of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood. The material is taken from the vein only in the morning and only on an empty stomach.

First, a nurse on the arm above the elbow applies a tourniquet, then the needle is inserted into the vein and about 15-20 ml of blood is collected. The tourniquet is then removed and a cotton swab is applied to the site of the injection. The patient is instructed to bend his arm at the elbow and tighten the injection site tightly to stop the blood. You can sit for a few minutes, then go home.

And in the collected blood with the help of a centrifuge, plasma is separated, necessary chemicals are produced. Reaction and the activity of AST is determined. The results are usually ready the next day. It is better not to engage in self-interpretation of the results obtained on hand, this should be done by a doctor.

Increased aspartate aminotransferase: what kind of treatment is needed?

It is important to understand that if an analysis was made and it was confirmed that AST was greatly elevated in the blood, then this could not happen simply 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 reduce AST without treatment of the disease that caused a jump in the concentration of the enzyme.

Therefore, the main task of the attending physician will be to find, in the case when AST is elevated in blood, the reasons for this. That is, on the foreground there is an early diagnosis, and then the appointment of treatment. After elimination of the disease, the level of aspartate aminotransferase also decreases.

How to properly prepare for delivery of the AST content analysis

To ensure that the results of the tests are more reliable, blood must be given on an empty stomach. And it should take at least 8 hours after the last meal. It is very important to give up alcohol, from fatty and roasted, and avoid both physical, emotional and mental overloads the day before going to the laboratory. In the morning before the test, you can drink only clean water, but in no case do not drink coffee, juices or teas - this can adversely affect the blood test.

ASTs are raised or not, they are not found out earlier than seven days after sending for analysis, in order to have time for preparation. For one, or better two weeks before the study, experts strongly recommend not to take medication. In the event that this requirement is not possible, it is necessary to notify your doctor about it so that when decoding the analysis data he makes the necessary corrections or appointed a procedure for another day. If there is an allergy or pregnancy, then this should also be reported to the doctor.

Indications for the purpose of the assay

The described analysis is prescribed for certain diseases:

• Acute or chronic heart disease.
• All liver diseases.
• Diseases of the circulatory system.
• Infections.
• Renal insufficiency.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Encephalopathy of an incomprehensible etiology.
• Disorders of bilirubin metabolism and different kinds of jaundice.
• Pathologies are purulent-septic.
• Pancreatitis is chronic.
• Gallstone disease and bile outflow.
• Malignant tumors.
• Endocrine diseases.
• Skin diseases caused by allergies.
• Preparation for a serious surgical intervention.
• Injuries to the chest or abdomen.

In addition, he is appointed to assess the dynamics in the treatment of cardiac and hepatic pathologies and during the administration of antibiotics (long-term), various toxic agents, as well as chemotherapy.

About the indicator of ALT

What is the increased AST in the blood, the causes of this phenomenon, we found out. Now let's talk about an equally important indicator. Usually, by appointing 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 at the most it is in the liver and kidneys. When liver problems occur, ALT enters the bloodstream. Its increase allows you to diagnose serious liver disease before the appearance of jaundice - a characteristic symptom of various hepatitis. Therefore, the increased content of ALT in the blood of doctors is treated as an indication of damage to the body.

If a person has passed blood for a biochemical analysis, AST and ALT are increased, then this can mean that serious destructive processes occur in the body. Recall that both enzymes enter the blood in increased amounts, only if there is destruction of the cellular structures. This does not necessarily indicate the presence of the disease. The correct conclusions can be made only by the doctor, after additional diagnostic procedures. It is not necessary to panic, but it is also not necessary to delay the visit to the doctor.

Concluding remarks

Elevated ALT and AST in the blood is not yet a verdict, even if these indicators far exceed the norm. The main thing is a timely diagnosis and treatment under the guidance of an experienced specialist. We wish all good analyzes and health!