Liver

What does high AST mean?

A high AST means there's more of an enzyme called aspartate aminotransferase in your blood than usual — often because some of the cells that hold it have released it. Those cells live in your liver, but also in your muscles, your heart, and your red blood cells. It's a common and usually mild finding, and on its own it rarely tells the whole story. What it means depends on how high it is, what's sitting next to it on the panel, and where it's been heading over time.