Our body, perhaps, can be considered the most "advanced technology" that Mother Nature has created. In it, each organ is unique in its “design”, and with its capabilities it is not so surprising as it is striking. And if you delve into the study of the whole organism, you can find a considerable number of complex terms. Often in the tests you take, you can find such an unpronounceable phrase as aspartate aminotransferase is increased. And meanwhile, this relates to the topic of splitting amino acids. It is worth getting to know this term a little closer.
What's the term?
This word refers to a special enzyme that is involved in the splitting operation of almost any amino acid in our body. It is abbreviated as AST or is denoted by capital letters AST. The enzyme is found in the tissues of many organs, such as:
- liver;
- heart;
- nerve tissues;
- kidneys;
- muscles;
- pancreas;
- spleen;
- light;
- brain tissue.
Moreover, most of the enzyme is found in the tissues of the heart, kidneys, nerve cells, liver.
Thus, the diagnosis of any disease associated with these organs implies the fact that aspartate aminotransferase is elevated. In the lungs, spleen and pancreas, the amount of the enzyme is not so high. At the same time, the male body differs from the female body in the high activity of AST.
Functional purpose of ASAT
An enzyme is a protein molecule produced by the cell tissues of internal organs. Its structure was established by Russian scientists back in the 70s. The function of an enzyme is to accelerate the biochemical reactions that take place in cells. With the participation of vitamin B6, the exchange of amino acids becomes possible. During the complex transformation of many amino acids, including aspartic, a new compound is formed. It is thanks to him that the synthesis of glucose is carried out, which is so necessary for our body.
Features of ACT
Each of us sooner or later came across such a phrase as aspartate aminotransferase increased. What this means, not everyone knows. With that in mind, let's open the curtain. In a he althy body, the enzyme is contained in the cells of the mentioned internal organs, which is the norm. Only a small part of AST can penetrate into the blood. For your information - the concentration of the enzyme in the heart exceeds its amount in the bloodstream by 10thousand times.
But if the tissue of any organ is damaged, then aspartate aminotransferase, being released, penetrates into the blood and the amount of the enzyme begins to increase. The growth rate depends on the degree of tissue damage. For example, with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction, the concentration of AST will reach a maximum in a day.
In some cases, the level of the enzyme can exceed the norm by 5 times, and this figure can last for 7 days. And here someone may wonder: if aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is elevated, what does this mean? Such high activity is a characteristic sign of a serious condition of the patient, which often ends in an unfavorable outcome.
If the increase in the concentration of the enzyme occurs at a gradual and increasing pace, this means that the infarct zone is increasing. Aspartate aminotransferase activity can be triggered by the death of liver tissue.
What can high AST activity threaten with?
It is myocardial infarction that often causes a high concentration of aspartate aminotransferase in the blood stream. In this case, the amount of enzyme can be 10 times more than normal, and the higher it is, the greater the area of damage to the heart muscle. On the fourth day of treatment, a second analysis is usually prescribed. Its result will show whether aspartate aminotransferase is elevated or not. In the case of effective therapy, its concentration should be reduced.
High levels of AST can be observed withliver damage due to the influence of some factors:
- Oncological diseases.
- Alcohol poisoning.
- Obesity.
- Presence of hepatitis.
Only in this case, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an additional examination. But an increased level of the enzyme can be in quite he althy people. So, the activity could be:
- In children with inflammation.
- Women during the first trimester of pregnancy.
- When drinking too much alcohol.
- When taking certain medications: valerian, various antibiotics or paracetamol.
Great physical activity also has a negative impact in this regard. In addition, if aspartate aminotransferase is elevated, the reasons may be hiding in the use of drugs based on barbituric acid, taking contraceptives can also lead to an increase in AST.
Reasons for increasing AST
The reasons for the increased level of the enzyme, as mentioned above, may be myocardial infarction. With this diagnosis, 95-98% of all patients have high aspartate aminotransferase activity. In this case, the value can reach 3000 units / l. In other cases, a high level of the enzyme is observed with liver necrosis. This disease, in turn, can be caused by hepatitis of various forms. The level of AST at the same time exceeds the normal values by 10-100 times.
Among other diseases worth notingangina pectoris, acute pancreatitis, obstruction of the bile ducts, cancer cells or liver metastases. The concentration of the enzyme can also increase due to injury, burns, the beginning of the process of muscle cell death, under the influence of heat stroke. This can also include the patient's condition in the postoperative period.
The fact that aspartate aminotransferase is elevated in a child may indicate the presence of hepatitis, muscular dystrophy, acute myocarditis, jaundice.
Reasons for lowering AST
The level of the enzyme can not only increase, but also decrease. This happens for various reasons. It usually occurs in pregnant women. In other cases, in children and adults, due to muscular dystrophy, injuries of varying severity, cerebral infarction, hypothyroidism or acute pancreatitis, a reduced level of aspartate aminotraferase is observed. Due to a lack of vitamin B6 or a liver rupture, a deficiency of a protein molecule is also diagnosed.
Indications for analysis
Analysis to determine the level of the AST enzyme should be carried out in order to identify the presence of some serious pathologies:
- do oncological processes occur in liver cells;
- are there any metastases;
- increased blood aspartate aminotransferase may indicate the presence of infectious mononucleosis or a viral lesion of the lymphatic system;
- diseases of an autoimmune type (for example, Duchenne-Becker myodystrophy);
- myocardial infarction;
- cirrhosis;
- also the analysis will show the presence of hepatitis of any form,including liver necrosis.
In addition, the identified abnormalities of the muscles and liver, at least, should make you think about passing the analysis.
Only the result obtained can confirm or refute the diagnosis. This will allow you to take the necessary measures in a timely manner. If no major changes have taken place, then this is only for the better.
Preparation is essential
As with some tests, taking a test should be taken seriously, because taking medication, whether it is a medical drug prescribed by a doctor or an herbal decoction, can negatively affect the results of the analysis, which will be inaccurate.
Therefore, in order to know for sure whether aspartate aminotransferase is elevated or not, it is necessary to stop taking the medication. If for some reason this is not possible, the attending physician should be informed, who should be provided with all information regarding the drug. Namely, the dosage and the time of its taking. For women, lab tests can ruin a pregnancy.
Analysis and normal indicators
The material for the study is exclusively venous blood or serum. Her fence is made on an empty stomach in the morning. The whole procedure does not take much time and is pain-free. The result will be ready after 6-10 hours. Serum can be stored for 48 hours at 15-25degrees. In cooler conditions (2-8°C) it will keep for about 6 days.
As for the question of where you can take such an analysis, you should contact specialized laboratories that conduct biochemical analyzes. In some cases, in order to find out AST (aspartate aminotransferase) is increased or normal, you can undergo a study at the clinic at the place of registration or any medical state institution. Just need to first find out if her laboratory has the necessary equipment and tools for such an analysis.
Normal indicators for each group of people are different. For example, in newborns, the concentration of AST is 25-75 U / l, while in slightly older children (1-18 years old) it is 15-60 U / l. Normal values for women range from 10 to 36 U / l, and for men - from 14 to 20 U / l.
