high liver enzymes

[soozie]

what would be the cause for elevated liver enzymes?  I had routine blood work done for surgery and my liver enzymes came back high.  I was scheduled for  gastric bypass but since the enzymes came back elevated my surgery has been postponed.  Hepatitis A, B and C all came back negative.  Had a sonogram today and am awaiting the transcriber to fax them to me, however, the doctor did not seem concerned.  In August of 99 my liver enzymes all were normal.  

Test results from 9/10/01                  

ALT 78                                      
AST 89
ALP 108

I wanted a second opinion and went to my family doctor and had fresh blood drawn on 9/13/01 I got the results today

ALT 96
AST 121
ALP 126

I don't drink, smoke, am not taking any medications.  What could be the cause of this?  Other than being overweight, (reason for the gastric bypass)  I feel fine.  No diabetes, no high blood pressure.  I would love to hear any ideas!

[Dr. Erik]

Have you taken any over the counter pain relievers such as tylenol? This can cause these elevations. Have you been sick with any viruses? This can also cause elevations. Also, a fatty liver can cause elevations. This is usually a benign condition. Be patient as your physician will get to the bottom of it.

[JestersDummy]

Your results are close to mine and I don't think I am as far along in the process of diagnosing the problem as you are.  There are some good research papers on the subject though that are available on the web.  I offer no suggestions as to what your case may be but I can offer the locations of the information that I have been able to piece together so that you can start your own research.

http://www.gastro.com/liverpg/fattyliv.htm
http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/publications/fatty_liver.html
http://www.focusondigestion.com/script/main/Ques.asp?li=MNI&QaKey=25201
http://www.focusondigestion.com/script/main/art.asp?li=MNI&ArticleKey=13481
http://www.mayohealth.org/home?id=MC00012

And lastly

http://www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/hep/weblinks.html

Sorry that most of these take you to a fatty liver column, but you can navigate to their home page and search around for the other possible answers.  I am sure there are lots of other web sites as well, hopefully these will help.  Anything else I can do please let me know.

[soozie]

in follow up to my last posting...my liver sonogram results came back normal other than a fatty liver.  so now the question is "what exactly is a fatty liver?"  how do you get rid of it? would it stop me from having surgery in the future? Am wanting that gastric bypass for weight reduction, wouldn't the surgery only help the fatty liver?

[Dr. Erik]

yes, losing weight can help a fatty liver. A fatty liver should not prevent you from having the Gastric Bypass. A Fatty liver is not life threatening.

[JestersDummy]

Just a note. Fatty liver itself is not life treatening, but if it is not taken care of for some time then it can develop into a much worse condition and even another liver desease.

[MARY ANN]

I AGREE WITH JESTERS DUMMY I HAVE CIRRHOSIS OF THE  LIVER AND I HAVE RAN INTO INFORMATION ON FATTY LIVER ALONG THE WAY AND IT IS A FACT IF FATTY LIVER IS NOT BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL IT CAN BECOME  A VERY SERIOUS  LIVER PROBLEM .BE SURE YOU DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR LIVER,GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY.

[visp]

hi soozie i also am having the gastric bypass I live in california and am having it done with dr. kenneth thompson in whittier.  Good luck and i will pray for you.  My surgery date is October 30 am excited and scared but looking forward to being on the other side.

[soozie]

thanks Visp.  Have you had all of your blood work for the bypass?  I have had another tentative date set for the bypass scheduled for the 30th as well.  Have to see how that goes, if all tests go well... Let me know how it is going with you, and good luck!!

[geb]

I went in to see a dermatologist regarding a skin rash that I have had off and on for you.  I was sent to have a blood test and it came back showing I had high (elavated) liver enzymes.  I had another blood test done and now I am scheduled for an ultra sound.  I was tested for Hepatitis A, B, and C and they all came back negative.  Has anyone had a skin problem that led to this?  Any ideas of what this could mean?