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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Are gastritis and high ALT levels associated?
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Are gastritis and high ALT levels associated?
by Ve, Aug 25, 1998 12:00AM
I am a 30 year old male who has had gastric problems for the past
several years. An endoscopy about two years ago showed that
I had "gastritis". In the past few months, I have developed
severe chest pains and difficulty breathing. A visit to the
cardiologist and an echocardiagram ruled out any heart problems.
My cardiologist ran several blood tests. One of these showed
the ALT was 234.2 and I noticed on the report that the normal
range was 8.0-53.0. What does the ALT indicate about the liver?
I was a heavy drinker for about 5 years, but I have had nothing
to drink for 8 years now. I continue to have severe pain in the
upper abdomen frequently. It seems to most often occur from
3:00 am to 6:00 am. I would appreciate any information you could
give me as to the why my ALT levels would be so high and if this
could be related to the gastritis?
______________
Dear Vee,
The abdominal pain and elevated liver tests may be related, although I tend to think that we are dealing with two different problems. Pain in the upper abdomen that occurs between 3 and 6 AM may be indicative of an ulcer. A second possibility is esophageal reflux.
Although unlikely, it is possible that your abdominal pain is a reflection of liver disease and in this way could be tied to the elevated ALT. Increases in ALT reflect damage to liver cells, either a leaky membrane or actual cell death. There are many conditions that can increase the ALT. Fatty liver is a very frequent cause. Alcohol related liver disease can persist after the drinking has stopped but I would not consider this a likely explanation. Chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B or c must be ruled out as well as autoimmune liver disease. Metabolic disorders would be an unlikely explanation.
I suggest that you arrange an evaluation with your primary physician to begin an evaluation of the different causes. This testing is necessary because some of the causes are treatable and early intervention will prevent more serious disease later.
This information ism presented for educational purposes only. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: abdominal pain, liver tests, hepatitis, fatty liver
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