Is High SGOT AST bad?

Is High SGOT AST bad?

A high AST level often means there is some liver damage, but it is not necessarily caused by hepatitis C. A high AST with a normal ALT may mean that the AST is coming from a different part of the body. It is important to realize that the AST level in most patients with hepatitis C goes up and down.

When should I be concerned about high AST levels?

High levels of AST in the blood may indicate hepatitis, cirrhosis, mononucleosis, or other liver diseases. High AST levels can also indicate heart problems or pancreatitis. If your results are not in the normal range, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition needing treatment.

What is considered a very high AST level?

Typically the range for normal AST is reported between 10 to 40 units per liter and ALT between 7 to 56 units per liter. Mild elevations are generally considered to be 2-3 times higher than the normal range. In some conditions, these enzymes can be severely elevated, in the 1000s range.

What does having an elevated AST/SGOT indicate?

Causes For High SGOT Levels Moderately elevated SGOT levels can suggest damage to the liver or other tissues as in alcoholics. Very high levels of SGOT can be found in recent liver injury or infection involving the liver. SGOT levels tend to be higher than SGPT in non-hepatic conditions such as shock and congestive heart failure.

What would cause a high AST?

High AST can be caused by liver diseases, myocardial infarction (heart attack), acute pancreatitis, acute hemolytic anemia, trauma (especially severe burns), acute kidney failure, diseases of the muscular and skeletal systems, and other causes. Sometimes the cause of the high AST result is obvious, e.g. if acute physical trauma is present.

What does it mean when your AST level is high?

Normally, AST levels in your blood are low. When your liver is damaged, it puts more AST into your blood, and your levels rise. A high AST level is a sign of liver damage, but it can also mean you have damage to another organ that makes it, like your heart or kidneys.

What causes elevated AST levels?

High AST levels can also be produced by some types of cancer, recent ingestion of high amounts of vitamin A, mononucleosis, and as a side effect of a long list of medications, including statins (anti-cholesterol medication), many antibiotics, chemotherapy, large doses of aspirin, barbiturates, and opioid drugs (narcotics).