Elevated Liver Enzymes

[Mike]

I am 31 years old 6ft 210 lbs.  I have always been very athletic in my life. Never Drink, no drugs, no smoke. Although in the last 5-6 years I have not been very active as far as sports but I am in good condition and I eat fairly healthy.  About 4 years ago I was told by my Doctor I had elevated Liver Enzymes and consequently my Life insurance policy was slightly rated.  At the time it was about 89.  We took the test again and a few weeks later it was 74.  he did all the recommended tests.  I was negative for all hepatitis.  I had a sonogram done earlier this year and it was normal , no leisons, no enlarged, no fattyness.  I recently (about 2 weeks ago)  went to him for some headaches I have been having.  I was possibly  attributing this to some vitamins that I have been taking from a COmpany called Roex(B's C's, Calcium, grape seed extract, olive leaf extract.  My grandmother swears by it.  I tried them becasue I felt that I have been lacking nutrients.   However, The Dr. said that wasnt the cause.  Since I was in the office I said lets do my regular liver test.  The results came back 140!  I am getting concerned because I feel that My Doctor is not experienced at all in this instance and I need some recommendations as to what could be causing this possibly some guidance on where I can go for some expert help. I am in the NYC area. I am very concerned.

[peppino77]

Dear Jasen,

Stop taking alcohol, reduce to minimum all medicines, reduce fats and meats, take milk thistle herbal pills, use artichokes often as side salads. Drink loads of water.

[beatriz]

I'm concerned that with all the mention of elevated liver
enzyme levels here, there is no mention of anyone's doctor
checking for hemochromatosis, or iron overload disease, which
is very common (1 in 250 americans, higher incidence for
those of Irish/Scottish/Welsh or Northern European descent)
and potentially fatal, yet easily detected and prevented.

The problem is that doctors often don't think to check for
it and people have never heard about it, even though it is
THE most common genetic disease in the U.S.

One of the early symptoms of this condition are elevated liver
enzyme levels.

What happens is that the iron levels in the body begin to
accumulate and eventually the iron gets stored in major organs
and causes damage, like cirrhosis, liver cancer, heart disease,
diabetes, etc.  

For complete information try the American Hemochromatosis
Society's web page:  www.americanhs.org

[Richard]

I recently went to the Dr. for a routine physical. They took blood and when they called me back with the results they had told me that my AST WAS 45 and ALT WAS 66.

Can you please let me know what could have cuased this to go up. I am not a drinker, however I do like to have 1 drink a day. I am not a heavy drinker at all.

PLease let me know.

Thank you
Richard

[Scott]

Hello,
I am a former Hodgkin's patient who is also a marathon runner.  My most recent blood counts for my periodic follow-up was very good, but they found that my AST was 55 and my ALT was 57, both twice the normal.  Hepititus is unlikely, I'm told, and was also told the possibility of maybe some liver damage from the chemo.  However, my liver enzyme count has nothing to compare to, since it was last checked when I was given chemo more than 2 years ago, and that was high then, but not as high as it is now, I guess.

I am told that more than likely since I am so active that my body is constantly repairing itself, making the liver more active in response.  They found something in the medical journals about exercise and liver enzymes that supports that.  Since September of last year, I have not taken a day off from running and have averaged over 61 miles each of those weeks.  I just got done completing a 24-hour run, with a PR of 93 miles in Eldridge, Iowa in May, and am running some of the fastest times in my life.  So, I don't feel sick (I feel great), and all other tests confirm that I am healthy.  My onclogist doesn't suspect cancer, but had me CAT scanned anyway yesterday, even though the blood work was good.  I have been a runner for almost 18 years.  I am a 33 year old male, non-smoker, non-drinker, and am not currently on any medications, and have no other health related issues other than just having Hodgkin's stage 3B almost 3 years ago.  I was given chemo, then radiation therapy after that.  Everything has been great after that.  Is it possible that those numbers could be my physiological normals being as active as I am?  And if so, is that common with athletes?

***@****

[Shawnda]

I recently went to my doctor for a sinus infection and while I was there I told him I had been a little tired lately.  I didnt know why I had been tired...if it was stress,depression or just the fact that I have two kids (2 1/2 yr old & 7 month old).  They did some bloodwork to check for thyroid,diabetes etc..My blood work came back with elevated alkaline phosphatase level of 715 and GGT level of 137. I have had an ultrasound, which shows an enlarged left lobe of the liver...I have also had a CT scan which showed a lesion measuring 14cm X 12cm X 7cm.  The radiologist suggested focal nodular hyperplasia, but the gastroenterologist says that there is usually not elevated liver chemistries in focal nodular hyperplasia.  I have recently had alpha-feto protein bloodtest done along with another blood test to check for
tumor marker, but all came back negative.  I then had a Tc 99m sulfur colloid liver spleen scan, which said that the appearance was atypical for focal nodular hyperplasia, but possible adenoma.
I am scheduled for MRI in a few days.  My question is has anyone ever heard of anything like this.  I am worried that it could be cancer and nobody seems to want to tell me anything.  The gastro seems to think it is not cancer, but isnt positive.  Please e-mail response to ***@****.

[Cindy Bandy]

My daughter just returned from the Dr and he said her Chorlestreol was too high and put her on a diet.  How many mg of chorlestreol should you have per day.  Thank you