The SGOT test is a blood test that’s part of a liver profile.
It measures one of two liver enzymes, called serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase.
This enzyme is now usually called AST, which stands for aspartate aminotransferase.
AST is an enzyme mostly found in the liver. But AST is also present in other parts of the body, including the:
kidneys
heart
muscles
And brain
An AST blood test helps determine how well the liver is functioning by measuring levels of AST in the blood.
Most people have low levels of the AST enzyme.
Damage to liver cells can cause the release of extra AST into the blood though, leading to higher levels of the enzyme.
Why it’s used
A SGOT test may be used to help your doctor diagnose liver damage or liver disease.
The test may be used to evaluate liver health for people who are already known to have conditions that affect their liver, such as hepatitis C.
SGOT is found in several areas of your body, as already mentioned
If any of these areas are damaged, your SGOT levels may be higher than normal.
For example, the levels could be raised during a heart attack or if you’ve had a muscle injury.
But remember...The AST level is not as helpful as the ALT level for checking the liver.
Unlike SGOT, ALT is found in heaviest concentrations in the liver.
So, An ALT test is often a more definitive indicator of potential liver damage.
Normal AST Ranges
There is not an exact range for AST levels, as levels can vary among people and still be normal.
AST levels can vary depending on factors such as:
age
sex
weight
race
The normal range of an SGOT test is generally between 10 and 40 units per liter of serum. In general, men may naturally have higher amounts of AST in the blood.
For Males: 10 to 40 units/L
Females: 9 to 32 units/L
A score of more than 1,000 U/L are very high levels and may be a sign of liver injury or hepatitis
Higher-than-normal AST levels can be caused by:
Chronic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Blockage in the bile ducts
Liver cancer
Very high AST levels can be caused by:
Acute viral hepatitis
Damage to the liver from drugs or other toxic substances
A blockage in blood flow to the liver
Very high AST levels are usually a sign of progressing liver damage, often due to acute hepatitis.
27 июл 2022
