Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Raised levels of liver enzymes
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
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.
Raised levels of liver enzymes
by paej2, Apr 23, 2004 12:00AM
Hello,
I am 34 years old male.
I present a normal haematology and biochemistry profile but have been found to have:
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase of 143
Aspartate Transaminase of 64
Alanine Transaminase of 180
(Total bilirubin is 12
Alkaline phosphatase is 80
the white cells counts are all normal too)
Could these results be due to a childhood illness? Could it be due to a asymptomatic but now chronic Hepatitis and if so, should I be worried I may have passed this on to my wife and children?
Should I rush to do a Hepatitis A B C profile?
I am 34 years old male.
I present a normal haematology and biochemistry profile but have been found to have:
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase of 143
Aspartate Transaminase of 64
Alanine Transaminase of 180
(Total bilirubin is 12
Alkaline phosphatase is 80
the white cells counts are all normal too)
Could these results be due to a childhood illness? Could it be due to a asymptomatic but now chronic Hepatitis and if so, should I be worried I may have passed this on to my wife and children?
Should I rush to do a Hepatitis A B C profile?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Apr 24, 2004 12:00AM
, Apr 24, 2004 12:00AM
You note elevated liver enzymes, including an ALT of 180. Causes can include chronic alcohol (although in these cases, the AST is typically elevated over the ALT). The bilirubin is noted to be markedly elevated at 12.
I would suggest being urgently seen by a physician. Causes can include any number of gallbladder and liver diseases - including hepatitis, medications, gallstones or other gallbladder disease.
An abdominal ultrasound would be the first test to obtain - this can evaluate the liver as well as the gallbladder. A hepatitis screen should also be sent.
The next course of action would be dependent on the results of these tests.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
I would suggest being urgently seen by a physician. Causes can include any number of gallbladder and liver diseases - including hepatitis, medications, gallstones or other gallbladder disease.
An abdominal ultrasound would be the first test to obtain - this can evaluate the liver as well as the gallbladder. A hepatitis screen should also be sent.
The next course of action would be dependent on the results of these tests.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
I seldomly drink alcohol.
I am slightly overweight.
I suffer from bouts of guttate psoriasis and perennial rhinitis.
The day before the test was done, I finished a 5 days Amoxicillin course (500mg 3 times a day). I also used, during a 3 weeks period of illness where I went from a flu like viral infection to a chest bacterial infection for which I received the antibiotic, up to 600mg of Aspirin + 800mg Paracetamol a day and the occasional Diclofenac.
the bilirubin, according to the lab report, is 12 micro mols per liter and the "normal" range shown as between 0 and 22. Is this still elevated?