Diseases that affect liver cells cause the release of AST. The AST/ALT ratio (with both elevated) is usually greater than 2 in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
An increase in AST levels may indicate:

• acute hemolytic anemia
• acute pancreatitis
• acute renal failure
• hepatic (liver) cirrhosis
• hepatic (liver) necrosis (tissue death)
• hepatitis
• infection mononucleosis
• liver cancer
• multiple trauma
• myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• primary muscle disease
• progressive muscular dystrophy
• recent cardiac catheterization or angioplasty
• recent convulsion
• recent surgery
• severe deep burn
• skeletal muscle trauma