Liver Enzyme Tests

  I wrote to you on June 20th about my liver enzyme testsbeing elevated.starting on Feb20th and then on Feb23rd and again May28th my tests ranged from
  LDH-- 373-- 171-- 645      SGOT-- 107--62--127   SGPT-- 131--168--127  GGT--142--198  Alkaline Phospatase--131--165--162
  All tests such as liver biopsy,cat scan,and ultra sound came back normal. All hepatitis markers also came back normal. My symptoms
  are weight gain,swollen lower stomach,fatigue,cramps in legs and not being able to sleep.Now I have a pain in my lower left side
  right above the hip. I went back to my personal Physician and he did a follow up on the liver tests plus a test for Cytomegalovirus.
  My liver tests came back normal and we are waiting for the results from the other test. I was seen by a Gastroenterologist in June and
  he suggested I wait a year for it to manifest itself. My family doctor was not pleased with that and now I have another appt. with another
  Gastroenterologist on July 21st. I am 54 yrs old , smoke 1-11/2 pks a day. I am trying to quit. I have frequent bouts with Bronchititis
  and have had Pneumonia 2 times in the last 2 yrs.I have had a peptic ulcer, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Can you suggest any new test
  that should be run to get to the bottom of all this? In Jan 98, I had an infection in both my eyes for 2 weeks and then I came down with
  a very bad case of Bronchititis. I don't know if this has anything to do with the elevation in my tests. Thank you for any help you can
  give me. Judith
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Dear Judith,
I am surprised that your liver biospy was reported as normal given the elevations of your liver tests.  If the biopsy is reviewed and is again felt to be normal, you can probably be reassured.  The underlying assumption is that liver diseases are distributed throughout the liver and that the small amount of tissue taken in the biopsy is representative of the process throughout.  The only caveat is that there can be sampling error.  This would mean that the biopsy missed the abnormality.
Ask your physician if hepatic steatosis (fat deposited in the liver) was seen on biopsy.  This condition can cause the elveations that you report, yet is not considered a serious problem because it does not progress to scarring of the liver.
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords; elevated liver tests, liver biopsy
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