What is AST or SGOT ?
AST(Serum Glutamic-Oxalocetic Transaminase) levels, by a commonly used method, range from 8 to 20 U/L although some ranges may express a maximum high in the 40s. AST levels fluctuate depending on the extent of cell death. This means that it might be temporarily elevated during the early disease process, and extremely elevated during the most acute phase. Depending on when the initial sample was drawn, AST levels can rise- indicating increasing disease severity and tissue damage- or fall- indicating disease resolution and tissue repair. Thus, the relative change in AST values serves as a reliable monitoring mechanism. Maximum elevations are associated with certain diseases and conditions. For example, very high elevations (more than 20 times normal) may indicate acute viral hepatitis, severe skeletal muscle trauma, extensive surgery, drug- induced hepatic injury, and severe liver congestion. High levels (ranging from 10 to 20 times normal) may indicate severe heart attack, severe infect
