What does it mean when AST and ALT are high?

If you have high levels of AST and/or ALT, it may mean that you have some type of liver damage. You may also have an AST test part of a series of liver function tests. In addition to AST and ALT, liver function tests measure other enzymes, proteins, and substances in the liver.

What are the most common causes for ALT and AST elevations?

Chronic alcohol consumption, drugs, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and chronic viral hepatitis are common causes associated with raised ALT and AST. In chronic viral hepatitis, the elevation of liver enzyme may not correlate well with the degree of liver damage.

What causes an elevation in ALT?

When your liver is damaged or inflamed, it can release ALT into your bloodstream. This causes your ALT levels to rise. A high ALT level can indicate a liver problem, which is why doctors often use an ALT test when diagnosing liver conditions.

Is it worse to have high AST or ALT?

The AST level is higher than the ALT level, and the ratio is greater than 2:1 in 70% of patients. A ratio greater than 3 is strongly indicative of alcoholic hepatitis.

What could be causing elevated levels of AST and ALT levels?

The most common diseases causing abnormally elevated ALT and AST are acute viral hepatitis, such as hemochromatosis (a genetic condition causing long standing liver damage due to iron build up in the liver), and diminished blood flow to the liver (from shock or heart failure).

What can raise AST ALT?

AST tends to rise with ALT if liver damage is present. Alkaline Phosphatase (or ALP for short): ALT is produced by the cells lining the bile ducts or the “plumbing” of the liver. A rise in ALT is commonly seen in conditions that caused blocked “ducts” such as bile stones or direct damage to the bile ducts.

What causes elevated levels of AST and Alt?

Common causes of elevated ALT and AST are viral liver infections, alcohol abuse, cirrhosis (from any chronic causes), and more. Normal levels of AST (SGOT) is about 5-40 units/liter of serum. Elevated levels of AST and ALT may signify the level of liver damage in a person.

What is considered slightly elevated AST and Alt?

If you go outside (or too high) this range then you are considered to have elevated liver enzymes. The standard range largely depends on the laboratory but in general is somewhere around 0-45 IU/l for ALT and 0-30 IU/l for AST. If your AST and ALT are higher than the 45 and 35 then they are said to be “elevated”.

What does it mean when AST and ALT are high? If you have high levels of AST and/or ALT, it may mean that you have some type of liver damage. You may also have an AST test part of a series of liver function tests. In addition to AST and ALT, liver function tests measure…