AST in myocardial disease

Last reviewed 01/2018

In myocardial disease AST may rise after myocardial infarction and myocarditis.

After an MI:

  • AST begins to rise from 6 to 12 hours after the infarct
  • it reaches a peak at 24 to 36 hours
  • it returns to normal in 3 to 5 days, providing there are no complications
  • the peak reached is from two to ten times the upper reference limit
  • the height of the peak may reflect the extent of the infarct but not the prognosis