What causes the increase in the SGOT levels in the blood?

Question

What causes the increase in the SGOT levels in the blood?

Answer 1

SGOT stands for Serum-Glutamate-Oxaloacetate Transaminase. It is also known as Aspartate transaminase (AST).

Norma levels in blood- 5-45 IU/L

The enzyme is mainly found in liver, heart & skeletal muscles. And, it is released into blood in excess when there is damage to either hepatocytes (liver cells) or muscle cells.

Some common causes of elevated SGOT levels in blood are-

1. Acute liver cell injury caused by any cause (for ex- alcoholic hepatitis)

2. Acute stage of viral hepatitis

3. Acute Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

4. Acute viral myocarditis

5. certain types of liver cancer (early stage)

6. cirrhosis of liver (especially if due to alcoholic liver disease)

7. obstructive jaundice

8. severe muscle trauma or necrosis

9. extensive surgery

But elevated SGOT levels alone are not diagnostic of the above mentioned conditions because SGOT lacks oragn specificity. Thus, other enzyme levels play important role in detecting underlying cause of SGOT elevation.

For example, SGOT / SGPT ratio of more than 2 indiactes alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis and rules out obstructive jaundice; viral & chronic hepatitis.