Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST/SGOT), in Visit Clinic

High AST (SGOT) means increased release of an intracellular enzyme from damaged liver, heart, skeletal muscle, or other tissues. Causes include viral or alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, heart attack, muscle injury, or medication/toxin effects. AST is interpreted with ALT and clinical context; the AST/ALT ratio and further tests (imaging, viral serology, cardiac enzymes) guide diagnosis. See a clinician for evaluation.

Elevated SGOT (AST) indicates injury to the liver or other tissues (heart, skeletal muscle, kidney). Causes include viral or alcoholic hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver, certain medications, muscle injury, or heart attack. It may be temporary or signal chronic disease. Clinicians usually repeat tests, check ALT and other liver markers, do imaging and targeted tests, and treat the underlying cause.

A low AST (aspartate aminotransferase) level is usually not worrisome. Mildly low results often reflect lab variation, low muscle mass, or vitamin B6 status and are rarely clinically significant. An isolated low AST without symptoms typically needs no treatment; repeat testing or review of other liver tests (ALT, bilirubin, albumin) can reassure. See your clinician if you have symptoms or persistent abnormalities.

Normal AST is roughly 10–40 U/L. In pregnancy, any elevation above the lab’s normal range needs evaluation; be more concerned if AST is 2–3× the upper limit, rises quickly, or occurs with severe right‑upper‑quadrant pain, persistent vomiting, headache, high blood pressure, jaundice, or reduced fetal movements. These may indicate preeclampsia/HELLP or acute fatty liver — contact your obstetrician or emergency care promptly.

No single SGOT (AST) value defines liver failure. Normal is about 10–40 U/L; very high levels (often >1,000 U/L) indicate massive hepatocellular injury and high risk for acute liver failure. Actual diagnosis depends on clinical and lab criteria—especially impaired synthetic function (INR ≥1.5), rising bilirubin, and hepatic encephalopathy—not AST alone.

Yes, elevated AST can reflect fatty liver disease, especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, but AST is less liver-specific than ALT. Fatty liver often causes mild-to-moderate AST and ALT elevations; the AST:ALT ratio and imaging (ultrasound or elastography) help assess severity. High AST may also come from muscle, heart, or hemolysis, so clinicians repeat tests and evaluate risk factors to confirm.