Key result
Cardiac arrhythmias are linked to ~10 U/L higher AST levels versus healthy controls.
Why the study?
The functional connection between the liver and heart in patients with life-threatening arrhythmias and the role of liver enzymes as biomarkers were not well characterized.
Do liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and total serum bilirubin levels differ in patients with cardiac arrhythmias compared to healthy individuals?
Case-Control (n=90)
Do liver enzymes (AST, ALT) and total serum bilirubin levels differ in patients with cardiac arrhythmias compared to healthy individuals?
Mean Difference: 9.85
Absolute Event Rate: 22.42% vs 12.57%
p-value: p=< 0.0001
Patients with cardiac arrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardias, exhibit significantly elevated liver enzymes (AST, ALT), suggesting an important bidirectional cardio-hepatic functional interaction.
AST elevation may flag cardio-hepatic interaction in arrhythmias; leaves open whether biomarkers aid risk stratification or require prospective validation.
The liver has a significant functional connection to the heart. The current study measured liver enzymes and bilirubin in a group of patients diagnosed with various types of life-threatening arrhythmias. Liver enzymes were also measured in a group of healthy individuals for calibration and control purposes. The results confirmed an association between liver enzymes and various arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation. Twenty biomarker tests were measured in patients to observe the extent of their association with liver enzymes. The three parameters showed a clear and multifactorial association with many physiological parameters, with the exception of ALT, which showed an association only with weight.
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Ali Jawad Alyasiri (2026) conducted a case-control in Cardiac arrhythmia (n=90). Cardiac arrhythmia vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Mean AST level (U/L) (MD 9.85, p=< 0.0001). Cardiac arrhythmias were associated with significantly higher mean AST levels compared to healthy controls (22.42 vs 12.57 U/L, p < 0.0001), indicating a close relationship between cardiac dysfunction and liver function.
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