Persistently raised aspartate aminotransferase (AST) due to macro-AST in a rheumatology clinic.
Diagnosis (Berl)
; 2(2): 137-140, 2015 Jun 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29540021
ABSTRACT
Macrocomplexes between immunoglobins and aspartate aminotransferase (macro-AST) may result in persistently increased AST concentration. The presence of macro-AST in patients has been implicated in unnecessary investigations of abnormal liver function tests. We report the case of a 44-year-old female who presented to the rheumatology clinic with a 12-months' history of constant widespread pain affecting her limbs and was found to have an elevated AST concentration. Further information from her GP revealed a 14-years' history of elevated AST with otherwise normal liver function. Previous abdominal ultrasound and two liver biopsies carried out 2 years apart were normal. This prompted further analytical investigation by the biochemistry department which identified macro-AST as the cause. This case illustrates that persistently raised isolated AST concentration with no other abnormal indices may warrant macroenzyme analysis potentially avoiding unnecessary invasive investigations.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article