elevated liver enzymes

[joyker]

My grandmother was admitted to the hospital with an elevate liver enzyme of 1500, as well as elevated Billirubin.  Is this number dangerous?  She is 73 with a history of COPD, Stomach Cancer, Stroke, RA, high cholesterol and High blood pressure.

[CalGal]

No matter which liver enzyme was measured at 1500, that is very high. Elevated liver enzyme numbers and elevated bilirubin are always worrisome. But it will depend on what the cause of the elevation is as to whether or not the 'cause' is dangerous. Elevated levels are a 'symptom.'

[joyker]

The doctor's are thinking from preliminary testing that she may have liver cancer.  She is very confused, she can not urinate, and when they cath her the urine is very amber in color.  She is also a little jaundice.

[CalGal]

I'm sorry to hear that. If she's not taking in a lot of fluids or if they're using an IV and she's getting fluids but her urine is still very yellow, her kidneys could be having problems. And when byproducts like enzymes and other things from the liver spill into the blood it can make someone appear very confused. It makes it extremely difficult to think and in some cases people don't 'know' who or where they are.

I hope they're able to make her comfortable. Someone in the family should talk to the docs to try to find out what the prognosis is. I know it's hard to tell and it very much depends upon the person, but your family may want to have some idea of what's to be expected. Typically only the family member who is ill can give permission to the doc to allow others to know where they stand, but hopefully that won't be an issue with your grandmother. I hope things improve.