Published in:
01-05-2007 | Review article
Macro-Aspartate Aminotransferase and Monoclonal Gammopathy: A Review of Two Cases
Authors:
Tuesday Werner, Hugo E. Vargas, Naga Chalasani
Published in:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|
Issue 5/2007
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Excerpt
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), also known as glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, is one of several enzymes that exist in macromolecular form as a result of their association with other molecules, generally immunoglobulins [
2]. In clinical practice, elevation of AST is generally associated with hepatic pathology. Hepatologists are commonly called to make associations between elevated transaminases and any of a number of potential causes of liver disease. Macro-AST has been detected in diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis, other autoimmune diseases, and malignancies of the stomach, breast, and prostate [
3]. Herein we present two patients who presented for medical care in the setting of hematological abnormalities in whom evaluation of hepatic function was requested due to elevated AST levels; these cases illustrate the possibility of macro-AST in patients with elevated enzyme immunoglobulin G (IgG) [
1]. …