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Liver Function Testing (LFTs) is a blood test used to evaluate various functions of the liver, as metabolism, storage, filtration, and excertion. Certain conditions, medication or alcohol may affect the "function"of the liver and will be demonstrated as abnormalities in certain parameters measured with this test. Some common parameters included with LFTs include alkaline phosphatase(AP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Gammaglutamyl Aminotransferase (GGT). Gallbladder disease commonly causes elevations in AP, however may cause elevations in other LFTs as well. Conditions commonly associated with abnormalities of LFTs include gallbladder disease, hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, infectious mononucleosis and alcoholism. Certain medications may cause liver inflammation, and therefore, while patients are on these medications the doctor will intermittently order LFTs to determine if these medications are adversely affecting the liver. Some of the medications which may cause inflammation of the liver include 1)cholesterol lowering agents 2) antibiotics or antifungal agents 3) anti-hypertensive medication 4)siezure medication 5) Acetominophen (Tylenol) 6) Anti-inflammatory agents (Motrin).
You are on no medication and I highly doubt that one glass of wine is going to lead to liver problems in and of itself. My two thoughts are this. 1) You need to have a blood test to see if you have any evidence of hepatitis.(a, B, or C) 2) If the blood test for hepatitis is negative, you need to consider the possibility of a "common bile duct stone". While stones in the gallbladder can cause inflammation, so too can stones in the main duct through which bile emptys from the liver. (the common bile duct). There is a test called an "ERCP" which is done by a gastroenterologist, which will help determine if there is the presence of a stone in the common bile duct.
If you are unhappy with the answers you are getting from your regular doctor, it may be time to ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist.
I hope this proves helpful!
Dean M. Tomasello, M.D.
I am suffering from Diabetes Mellities since 97. Before tha I was suffering from Hypertension since 92. I am on Lisinopril 10 mg since 92 till 2000. From 2001 Jan I am on 5 mg. I have been monitoring Cholestrol levels since long and my cholestrol was always on the higher side, even my SGPT was somewhere around 95. This has remained constant since last 5 years. Of late it has started going up and it has gone upto 125. On consultations with gasteroenterologist they told me it was a NASH syndrome and it has to be checked but there is no medication for it, what I have been told.
I want to know what does elevated levels of SGPT have an effect on our body and what should be done to bring down the elevated levels of SGPT. I do not drink alcohol maybe not more than 1 or 2 pegs/month. This is also not frequent. Kindly let me know what has to done in the above matter.
I think I would definitely go to a gastroenterologist, Sometimes people who have had their GB removed still have something called Sphicter of Oddi dysfunction, (SOD). It causes GB like pain and can cause a rise in liver enzymes. An ERCP can confirm this. If yo would like a little more info go to www.top5plus5.com Its a pancreatitis web site but it has information about SOD. I hope this helps.