Aspartate Aminotransferase near me in Allahabad

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme which is found in most of the body cells but mainly in the heart and liver. It is also present in kidneys and muscles but in smaller amounts. Normally, the levels of AST are low, but the levels rise when there is an injury to cells of the liver or muscle. 

The function of the liver is to process the nutrients of the body. It also produces bile which helps in digesting fats along with the production of other important proteins such as blood clotting factors and albumin. The liver breaks the potentially toxic substances into harmless products which can be used or eliminated by the body. 

The rise in levels of AST can be due to conditions causing liver damage such as hepatitis, drugs which are toxic to liver, cirrhosis, or alcoholism. The AST test is not specific for the liver. Its levels may also rise in conditions which affect other parts of the body.

This test is done with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test. Both the enzymes are found in the liver and their levels rise in case of liver damage. The ratio of AST/ALT helps in differentiating between the causes of liver damage in case of injury to heart or muscle.