• Jul 27th 2009, 11:33 PM
satimis
Hi folks,

1)
AST:ALT ratio equal to one (ALT is higher or equal to AST) ?

My understanding is if both are of equal number

Ex.
AST=20 and ALT=20 then the ratio equal to 1. But how can ALT higher than AST?

2)
AST:ALT ratio higher than one (AST is higher than ALT) ?

B.R.
satimis
• Jul 27th 2009, 11:53 PM
songoku
Hi satimis! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by satimis
1)
AST:ALT ratio equal to one (ALT is higher or equal to AST) ?

My understanding is if both are of equal number

that's right

Quote:

2)
AST:ALT ratio higher than one (AST is higher than ALT) ?

$AST : ALT = \frac{AST}{ALT}$

If AST:ALT ratio higher than one, then AST > ALT
• Jul 28th 2009, 12:15 AM
satimis
Quote:

Originally Posted by songoku
Hi satimis! :)

that's right

$AST : ALT = \frac{AST}{ALT}$

If AST:ALT ratio higher than one, then AST > ALT

Hi songoku,

I read a medical article. It says:
Code:

* An AST:ALT ratio equal to one (the level of ALT is higher or equal to AST), but the levels are very high, suggests acute viral hepatitis or drug-related hepatitis. * An AST:ALT ratio higher than 2:1 (two times the level of AST to ALT) is very suggestive of alcoholic liver disease. * An AST:ALT ratio higher than one (where the level of AST is higher than the ALT) could also indicate cirrhosis in a person that doesn't have alcoholic hepatitis.
I am confused on
Code:

* An AST:ALT ratio equal to one (the level of ALT is higher or equal to AST)...
How can AST:ALT ratio equal to one if the level of ALT is higher than AST (AST>ALT) ?

TIA

B.R.
satimis
• Jul 28th 2009, 01:27 AM
songoku
Yes, that's confusing

Mathematically, that's wrong, but i don't know if that has another meaning in medical section
• Jul 28th 2009, 03:25 AM
satimis
Quote:

Originally Posted by songoku
Yes, that's confusing

Mathematically, that's wrong, but i don't know if that has another meaning in medical section

Noted. Thanks

B.R.
satimis