SGOT / AST (Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic transaminase / Asparate Aminotransferase)

10-40 U/L

• AST is widely distributed with high concentrations in the liver, heart, skeletal muscles, kidney, and erythrocytes. Damage or disease to any of these tissues such as myocardial infarction, viral hepatitis , liver necrosis, cirrhosis, and muscular dystrophy may result in raised levels of AST
• Although elevated serum AST is not specific for liver disease, it is primarily used to diagnose and monitor the course of liver disease ( In combination with other enzymes such as ALT, ALP, and bilirubin)
• It is also used to monitor patients with heart attack, but is much less specific than CPK and LDH. Diseases that affect liver cells cause the release of AST
• The test is most useful in detecting liver damage due to Hepatitis, drugs toxic to the liver, cirrhosis, or alcoholism
• Very high levels of AST ( more than 10 times normal ) is usually due to acute Hepatitis, sometimes due to a viral infection
• Levels are markedly elevated (Over 100 times normal) as a result of exposure to drugs or other substances that are toxic to the liver or conditions that cause decreased blood flow (Ischemia) to the liver

• When there is s/s of liver disease ( weakness , fatigue , loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting , Jaundice, Dark urine, light coloured stools, pruritus, swelling in the legs and ankles, tendency to bruise easily)
• People who are at an increased risk for liver diseases( who are exposed to Hepatitis viruses, heavy drinkers, h/o liver disease in family, taking drugs that can damage liver)

• Acute haemolytic anaemia 
• Acute pancreatitis
• Acute Renal Failure
• Hepatic Cirrhosis
• Hepatic Necrosis
• Hepatitis
• Infection Mononucleosis
• Liver Cancer
• Reye’s syndrome
• Multiple trauma
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Myocardial Infarction ( peaks 24 hrs after Infarct and returns to normal 3-7 days later)
• Severe deep burn

• Uremia
• Vit B6 Deficiency