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What Causes Elevated AST And ALT Levels With Chest Pain?
Posted on
Thu, 10 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 10 Dec 2015
Answered on
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : my wife is having chest pain like severe heartburn. she went to the doctor yesterday and they did blood work. her results came in today and everything looks normal but her ast is 102 and her alt is 110. What could this mean? Thank you
Brief Answer:
AST and ALT increases in many conditions, chest burning is probably GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. The AST ans ALT are liver enzymes and usually an elevation means a probability of increased liver enzymes from an inflammation or condition of the liver.
2. Less commonly, such an increase might happen in conditions involving the upper gastrointestinal tract.
3. Conditions like mild liver inflammation, gall bladder stones, fatty liver and obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, alcohol consumption, thyroid problems, muscle conditions, metabolic causes like hemochromatosis, autoimmune disorders and due to drugs and medicines, can cause increase in AST and ALT levels.
4. The chest pain and heart burn is most commonly from conditions like esophagitis, GERD or gastritis. Cardiac cause for burning chest pain is rare.
5. A detailed evaluation is recommended supporting the clinical symptoms including the nature and frequency of symptoms. I suppose the doctor has asked for more specific tests and probably they will be able to come to a definite cause for the symptoms.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
AST and ALT increases in many conditions, chest burning is probably GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. The AST ans ALT are liver enzymes and usually an elevation means a probability of increased liver enzymes from an inflammation or condition of the liver.
2. Less commonly, such an increase might happen in conditions involving the upper gastrointestinal tract.
3. Conditions like mild liver inflammation, gall bladder stones, fatty liver and obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, alcohol consumption, thyroid problems, muscle conditions, metabolic causes like hemochromatosis, autoimmune disorders and due to drugs and medicines, can cause increase in AST and ALT levels.
4. The chest pain and heart burn is most commonly from conditions like esophagitis, GERD or gastritis. Cardiac cause for burning chest pain is rare.
5. A detailed evaluation is recommended supporting the clinical symptoms including the nature and frequency of symptoms. I suppose the doctor has asked for more specific tests and probably they will be able to come to a definite cause for the symptoms.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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