AST Full Form in Medical term is Aspartate Aminotransferase. One way to detect liver disease is via a blood test called aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This evaluation could be necessary to diagnose liver disease and track its progression during treatment.
The liver produces the enzyme AST. The liver, spleen, and intestines also contribute a little, as do the kidneys, heart, brain’s activity, & muscles. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST) is another name for this enzyme.
Blood AST levels are often quite low. When the liver is injured, it releases more AST into the blood, leading to an increase in the disease marker.
Damage to any organ that produces AST including the liver, can lead to elevated levels.
Other organs at risk include the heart and the kidneys. This is why the AST test is commonly performed with other tests of liver enzymes by medical professionals for best outcomes.
This test can also be used to monitor the efficacy of liver disease therapies prescribed by your doctor.
A complete metabolic panel, which includes the AST test, is one type of blood test that a physician will order at a typical checkup.