Elevated ALT

I donated blood for the first time last month and was sent a letter advising that my blood was rejected because of elevated ALT.  My level was 131 and the max accepted is 120.  All of the other tests came back negative only my ALT was in question.  I went to the doctor yesterday and had blood work done.  My doctor advised that the test would show any problems with my liver. He also has set up a Upper G.I. test and a echo on my liver ( I think thats right ).  I am currently taking Atenelol 50mg twice a day and Effexer 75mg once a day.  I dont drink. Should I be very concerned?

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Scott,
There are many people like you who have asymptomatic elevations of liver tests that are detected during blood donation.  Usually, the cause is not serious.  The Red Cross uses the liver test to screen for hepatitis and so you should be checked for viral hepatitis B and C.  Another common cause for this elevated test is nonalcoholic fatty liver.  There are other possible causes but they tend to be less common.  Followup with your doctor for the results of the tests already ordered and ask if additional tests are needed.

[JENNY]

I read your note re elevated ALT. My wife has been told she has elevated ALT at 43.

She recently had her gall bladder removed when complaining of severe pain on the upper right hand side.  However after the gall bladder operation the pain has continued and even worsened.

Liver function test is normal.  Blood tests have shown a high white blood cell count.  There is also leucocytosis.

Dizziness, continual headaches, shortness of breath (asthmatic),  Intermittent yellow diarhoe.  The pain causes her to wake at night. She also has pins and needles and pain in the legs.  She tends to get more pain after eating chocolate and having drinks containing Phenolalanine.

She does not smoke or drink any alcohol.

Any suggestions.
,

[JENNY]

Further to my last comment, I forgot to mention that
my wife also has a lot of itching in the stomach area.

[DAN GIZMO]

I HAD ELEVATED ALT A WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HEP-C. I WAS A MODERATE DRINKER, BUT QUIT ALTOGETHER FOR MY OWN BENEFIT. THE LIVER SPECIALIST I HAVE BEEN SEEN HAS TAKEN A RNA COUNT TWICE A YEAR.
PLUS SEVERAL ULTASOUNDS ON THE LIVER AND OTHER RELATED ORGANS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SCARRING OR FATTY LIVER. I AM TYPED 1B WHICH IS THE HARDEST MUTATION TO TREAT. SUCCESS RATE IS AROUND 30% WITH REBETRON TREATMENT. TO MD TOLD ME 20% OF HIS PATIENTS HAVE DROPPED REBETRON TREATMENTS BECAUSE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS.
I AM 53 YRS. OLD AND GOT MY HEP-C FROM A TRANSFUSION DURING HEART SURGERY IN 1990 OR I COULD HAVE GOT FROM WOUNDS IN THE ARMY BACK IN 1969 --- WE HAD TO SHARE NEEDLES THAN BECAUSE THERE MAY HAVE ONLY ONE AVAILABLE AFTER A MEDIC GOT KILLED AND HIS SUPPLY PAK SMOKED. I NEVER SHOWED ANY ELEVATED LIVER FUNCTIONS UNTIL THE SURGERY IN 1990, SO I SUSPECT IT WAS THEN. IN THE MEAN TIME WE ARE MONITORING ENZYMES AND RNA COUNTS. IDON'T THINK REBETON IS FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE LOW SUCCESS RATE.

[Wayne]

During a routine physical i initially had a sgpt reading of 49.  the Dr. ordered a retake and it was 69. An ultrasound detected some shading on my liver and the Dr. ordered an abdominal CT that was normal.  The Dr. wants me to retake the sgpt in 4 months.  all my blood work (hepatits, etc. was normal)

[Gary]

My ALT was 135 I do drink moderately mostly wine and have used nicotine in the past.Have had a ultra sound that was normal, chest and abdominal xrays that were normal, and
all other liver blood work normal and urinalysis normal.
Do I have reason to be prepared for really bad news?
I have stopped drinking. Is it possible the ALT will go back to normal?
Sincerely,
Gary R. Watson

[Irene]

There are two enzymes that are elevated in liver disease, ALT on its own indicates some anomolies but not disease as such - determined by scientific testing.  So that's why your blood work etc. is considered normal.  Don't drink, or smoke, reduce all processed foods especially deli meats, and go to a Chinese herbalist.  He'll give you a long term formula which will return your liver function to normal.  Drink beetroot juice alternating with carrot and celery juice daily and eat sesame seeds.  You don't have symptoms of hepatitis.  Your problems probably arise due to faulty diet.  Change it.

[Debbie Deaton]

I also have elevated ALT which has been high for over a year.  Can this mean anything other than a fatty liver?

[bill]

Is a fatty liver a liver disease?  Can it be treated and the liver healed?  Is or can it be caused by Cholestrol too high?

[joe james]

After perhaps 6 or 7 yrs of moderate to hi drinking my alt was 66 three weeks after stopping all drinking. I have an insurance test coming up in about 2 months which would put me 3 months with no drinking. What are my chances of having a normal alt reading. Should I put off the test longer or will it always be high. etc. Opinions appreciated. Im male 49yrs.

[Richard]

I have also recently donated blood to Bonfils and a high ALT reading was detected, I had a reading of 95 IU/L.  I am wondering if this is somthing to worry about. I dont drink at all and am on no medication.  I seem to be in good health and feel good most of the time.  I am 35 years old and am 5;10 and weigh about 210.  I know I am over weight but am far from obese. I have noticed that i dont have alot of energy and I get tired more than usual. I can sit down and just fall asleep, this is unusual for me. My mother has just recently died from complications with diabetis. I would like to know if this ALT can be signs of diabetis. I have not been diagnosed with diabetis and have had no major health problems.  Thanks

[Scott]

I am a male, 42. I recently had bloodwork done for an insurance physical. The tests came back with high cholesterol and I was high on 2 liver enzymes.

ALT= 63
GTE= 110

I didn't fast before the test and I am sure that I wasn't alcohol free for 3 months before the test. Also, I can't find anything on GTE except the phone company. Did they give me the wrong letters? Am I in trouble? Can the Braves ever beat the Yankees?

Thanks

[Rosalyn B STerling]

I spent four years going to Medical Doctors for itching
and rash in the genital area, stomach and under my breasts.
The rash and swelling was so bad it finally effected my face
and my eyes were almost swollen shut. The rash had been treated by dozens of medications to no avail. I finally started
eliminating food groups, one at a time until I hit on the
problem. All diet drinks at the time and diet foods plus Xlax
contained phenolalanine and or phenothalien.
By carefully reading every lable, I eliminated those elements and
within two weeks, I had almost cleared up and to this date have had no more problems.
Just yesterday I discovered that Zantac also contains this
pest, so even prescription drugs must be watched.

[maryanne]

this is a comment to George, your letter sounds just like me. I have just today received a high SGPT  and SGOT results on my liver enzymes.  The other tests done in the liver function test area all showed normal results.  I am very worried, to the point of making myself a nervous wreck, but because I have not health insurance, the doctor wants me  to just retest in 2 months and see what happens.  I have been on many different drugs over the past few years because of other medical problems, such as diabetes and bipolar affective disorder, and I am worried sick that it could be damage as a result of these drugs.  I will tell you this George, I dont know if you are a God fearing person or not, but I will pray for you tonight that you might get some answers and that you will be well.  Thanks

[Maryw]

My son has a liver disease called alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency.  He is 3 1/2 years old and just had a liver transplant on March 16, 2000.  This disease can become known when you are a small child, or not until later in life.  If your enzymes are elevated, your doctor may want to do the serum blood phenotyping to determine whether or not you may have Alpha 1.

see www.Alpha1.org for more info.

[Ally]

To those asking about an elevated ALT level, I found this on a website explaining about the reasons for rejection of blood for transfusion:

"Elevated ALT (SGPT) level

Although this test has little value now that sensitive viral tests for hepatitis B and C are in place, some manufacturers of plasma derivatives (albumin, clotting factor concentrates, immune globulin,etc.) will not accept plasma from donors with ALT levels above 120 u/L. Most donors with elevated ALT and normal viral markers have some benign and transient cause, such as recent viral illness, medication, being overweight, recent vigorous exertion, or overindulgence in alcohol."

I do think that one shouldn't assume that an elevated ALT is due to a "benign and transient" cause; get checked for disease before you assume this.

[kim]

My daughter suffers from short gut syndrome.  She has an elevated alt level of 44.  Dr. suggested liver biopsy.  She is 9 ears old and has been through enough.  I worry about the cause of the elevated alt.  All other blood work is normal.  Any comments??