What does the AST/ALT ratio indicate for this patient  What if your AST/ALT ratio were >1. What would that suggest?

Phlebotomy Essentials
6th Edition
ISBN:9781451194524
Author:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Publisher:Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Chapter1: Phlebotomy: Past And Present And The Healthcare Setting
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1SRQ
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question
100%

A 32 yr old female presented to your office complaining of abdominal pain. She states this pain started yesterday and increased over the course of a couple of hours. It is mostly in the epigastric region and does radiate at times to the RUQ. She states it has been constant since then. Currently rates it at a 7/10. She has never had pain like this before. Denies any vomiting but does complain of nausea. She denies any diarrhea or constipation. Denies any documented fevers but has felt a little chilled this am. Denies any abdominal bloating. She does state she drinks a glass of wine each evening. Denies any tobacco use or street drug use.

Current labs WBC 13.2 Hgb 14.0 Hct 38.9

Plt 250

Na 142
K 4.0
BUN 26
CR 1.2
Total bilirubin 2.5 mg/dl AST 289

ALT 302
Alk Phos 358

  1. What does the AST/ALT ratio indicate for this patient 
  2. What if your AST/ALT ratio were >1. What would that suggest?
Expert Solution
Step 1

AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (Alanine transaminase) are two enzymes of the liver that are released into the bloodstream on damage to liver cells. 

 

trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Organ system
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, nursing and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Phlebotomy Essentials
Phlebotomy Essentials
Nursing
ISBN:
9781451194524
Author:
Ruth McCall, Cathee M. Tankersley MT(ASCP)
Publisher:
JONES+BARTLETT PUBLISHERS, INC.
Gould's Pathophysiology for the Health Profession…
Gould's Pathophysiology for the Health Profession…
Nursing
ISBN:
9780323414425
Author:
Robert J Hubert BS
Publisher:
Saunders
Fundamentals Of Nursing
Fundamentals Of Nursing
Nursing
ISBN:
9781496362179
Author:
Taylor, Carol (carol R.), LYNN, Pamela (pamela Barbara), Bartlett, Jennifer L.
Publisher:
Wolters Kluwer,
Fundamentals of Nursing, 9e
Fundamentals of Nursing, 9e
Nursing
ISBN:
9780323327404
Author:
Patricia A. Potter RN MSN PhD FAAN, Anne Griffin Perry RN EdD FAAN, Patricia Stockert RN BSN MS PhD, Amy Hall RN BSN MS PhD CNE
Publisher:
Elsevier Science
Study Guide for Gould's Pathophysiology for the H…
Study Guide for Gould's Pathophysiology for the H…
Nursing
ISBN:
9780323414142
Author:
Hubert BS, Robert J; VanMeter PhD, Karin C.
Publisher:
Saunders
Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (Min…
Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (Min…
Nursing
ISBN:
9781337406291
Author:
Gerald Corey, Marianne Schneider Corey, Cindy Corey
Publisher:
Cengage Learning