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484160 tn?1343397921

Autoimmune disease liver issues

I have Sjogren's, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Reynaud's and undifferentiated connective tissue disease. My liver numbers have been good until my last rheumy visit. Now they are 3-4 times higher than my last visit and double the upper normal limit.ALT(SGPT) range is 9-51 and I am at 76.
AST (SGOT) normal range is 13-40 and mine is 73.
C4 complement range is 20-59 and mine is 18.

I'm supposed to go back and get the tests redone in a week or two. In the meantime I'm a little unsettled. Can someone offer me a little info on these numbers?
5 Responses
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1530171 tn?1448129593
HI OFC.

Mosts meds, toxins get processed by the liver and that along with
stress & fatigue (associated with low adrenal function) and possible sub-optimal thyroid regulation (you fit the profile for secondary hypothyroidism with primary hypoadrenalism, because of chronic biological and external stress-your doctors likely do not recognize these),
will at some point raise ALT & AST levels.
Fatigue is both a factor and a symptom in liver issues BTW.

Hope your test results this time will be better, however, you  still might be in limbo for a while longer, till you figure this out.

At any rate, please keep us posted.

Blessings.
Niko



Helpful - 0
484160 tn?1343397921
I am going tomorrow to get the liver tests run again. I guess we will see what happens with the numbers and go from there. I can't even work up the energy today to be concerned, lol. I am wondering if the liver numbers are a response to inflammation in my muscles. I've been having really achy arms and legs and just feel exhausted.
Helpful - 0
1530171 tn?1448129593
Hi again OldFatChick.

Tipping point? Who knows?

Your posted results "appear"  relatively normal (except the newest liver numbers)

Here's my take.( I think we went down this road some time in the past)

Unresolved chronic internal and external stress, because of your circumstances and health status, has resulted in hypo-adrenalism
(primary) and hypo-thyroidism (secondary).

By now your cortisol levels would be very low.

High stress/high cortisol is UNSUSTAINABLE in the long run

When the hypo-adrenalism remains un-addressed, nothing else seems  to resolve, as the body requires a low energy state ( thus the hypothyroid)
for adrenal recovery.

Because of this,there's a  good likelihood that you may be thyroid resistant, despite your "normal" results.

You definitely need to test for Free T3 (fT3) and Reverse T3 ( rT3) as well,
as the fT3/rT3 ratio is probably the most reliable marker for low cellular thyroid function. This way it can be ruled IN or ruled OUT!
Look for a ratio of over 20 for healthy thyroid function. (divide Free T3 by reverse T3, but make sure you are in the same unit measurement for both.)

Note:
Hypothyroidism cannot be successfully treated, until the adrenal function is restored.

I may have  been  repeating some things to you, but my honest advice is to go outside the conventional medical system and seek a Functional Medicine Doctor or ND who has training in Endocrine/Adrenal/Thyroid disorders.

Conventional doctors are bound by the "established" conventional protocols
and procedures, so chances are that they will not be able to help you make any breakthrough with your existing treatments.

You cannot afford to have your health deteriorate any further.

This is just my own opinion and it would be exactly what I would do if I were
in your situation and please bear in mind that my comments and suggestions are not intended to replace medical advice.

Wishing you well.

Niko

Helpful - 0
484160 tn?1343397921
I haven't taken NSAIDs in years, I may have 5 or 6 drinks per year, I've been on levothyroxine for some time and all my thyroid numbers have been good for some time.

Thyroid Numbers

Standard Range
T3
97.00 - 170.00 NG/DL

7/17/12 3/12/14
119.00 135.00


Standard Range
FREE T4
0.78 - 2.20 NG/DL

6/7/11  9/2/11 7/17/12 1/8/13 7/9/13 3/12/14

0.95   1.04 1.19         0.81        1.14          1.09


Name TSH
Standard Range
0.45 - 4.70 uIU/mL

6/8/10 12/7/10 6/7/11 9/2/11 7/17/12 1/8/13 7/9/13 3/12/14 4/29/14


2.60          1.49         3.03          1.73 0.61         1.09        0.95 1.47         2.33

I was about 45 lbs heavier a few years ago, but lost a lot of weight and my cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose have all been in normal range for 2-3 years now.

My liver numbers have always been good until this time:

ALT(SGPT)
9 - 51 U/L
24 33 26 27 34 26 27 76
AST(SGOT)
13 - 40 U/L
29 27 29 33 30 22 22 73

I wouldn't really have thought much about it if it hadn't been such a dramatic increase. The numbers just really haven't fluctuated in years until the last test.
Helpful - 0
1530171 tn?1448129593
Hi OldFatChick.

I think we came across each other in the past here.
Just can't remember the details


    Some common causes of elevated liver enzymes :

    *  Certain Medications, such as  (NSAIDs), statins, antibiotics, anti-seizure medications and others
    * Alcohol     * Obesity     * Diabetes
    * High triglycerides  * Gallstones
    * Certain Infections like  hepatitis and mono
    * Autoimmune hepatitis,  primary biliary cirrhosis,    * Metabolic liver         disease,    * Tumors of liver/ pancreas or bile ducts
   * Excessive intake of certain herbs
   * Celiac disease   * Hypothyroidism
  
Your  complement C4 which is linked to your immune system is just slightly below range.
A deficiency in this could be linked to kidney disease or hepatitis, but you were  probably  tested to monitor your treatment for your A/I condition(s)

Questions for you:

How do you have your thyroid function monitored?

Do you know that  conventional serum thyroid testing is NOT necessarily
accurate?

If there was a common denominator to most of your conditions, would you be surprised if it were unresolved or under-treated low thyroid function?

Could (the suspected) low thyroid function  have to do with your CHF?

If you need any information on this please let me know, but first, I would need your serum thyroid test results including lab ranges.

Best wishes.

Niko



    
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