AST 71, ALT 60, 1.183 ratio.

[Jas0n921]

I just got results from my blood test and the results have me a little worried. My AST was 71 and my ALT was 60. Which comes out to a 1.183 ratio, which says can be indicative of cirrhosis. I am a 37 year old male, in really good shape, but I have been a relatively heavy drinker throughout my life. Particularly in my 20s, but have cut down drastically in my 30s. I did binge drink one night about 2 weeks ago, but before the blood test, I had not had any drinks in 14 days. I haven’t spoken to my doctor yet or gotten an ultra sound, which I think may be necessary. Going forward I am going to quit drinking altogether. I just want to know how serious this is and how worried I should be. Thanks.

[Kristian]

Hi Jason,

Try not to jump to conclusions based on the result of one test. Diagnosing liver disease and the extent of any liver damage is far more complex than that.

You've read that if the AST/ALT ratio is more than 1 then this is indicative of cirrhosis. However, is that the right test for your given circumstances. Your ALT is within the normal range for the lab your doctor uses, so should you be looking at things that cause an isolated raise in AST alone instead.

Truth be told, the only way to determine if this result has any significance at all is to wait for the advice of your doctor. One off isolated tests results alone are rarely diagnostic of anything. Indeed, they can be raised by any number of common and less troublesome things. So best advice is, dont jump to conclusions.

Doctors have standard protocols and guidance they follow when they see an anomaly in any test. Usually the first step is to see if this us just an isolated blip. So they'll probably do a retest to see if its still there. They may also ask for an ultrasound to see if there are any visual anomalies in the liver.

Just remember this also, a raise in one or more of the standard liver tests is a very common finding as many things can impact on the liver. Very few of those with abnormal tests will have cirrhosis or any form of long term liver damage.

Good luck and lets hope your problem is one less drastic than cirrhosis.

[Hidden]

Hello ,

Welcome to the forum where you will be able to get advice and support from others with experience of liver disease. However, this is not a medical forum and none of the members are qualified to diagnose or give specific medical advice.

Users are advised to NOT post test results, scans or photos and request an interpretation from other members. This is clearly stated in the guidelines to both this forum and Health unlocked. Test results vary according to both the individual’s whole health and the specific laboratory / medical team analysing the results. To avoid misinterpretation and undue concerns, results can only properly be understood by a qualified medical practitioner with full knowledge of your unique medical history and circumstances.

Please don’t be discouraged from using the forum as there are members with a great deal of understanding and knowledge of living with liver disease as a patient or carer. They will be able to give you the benefit of that experience with understanding and empathy that can only come from those with first hand involvement.

On the British Liver Trust website you will find a great deal of information about liver disease / health from trusted sources.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/

Best wishes.

[MLB_77]

What calculator did you use? I googled one and my ratio is 1.2 (16/13) and I am really worried now. That number is in the cirrhosis range.