how high is danger for ast and alt im i40 ast 210 alt and got hep c

[jspat]

im scared of course ok i got hep c for a few year's now i am not to sure what ast and alt blood count;s mean is it dangerously high or can i get the treatment i shold be i don't see a gastranoligist till aug 28 panic anxiety all really scary now sober and scared in boston

[pooh55811]

Welcome to the forum.

As Orphaned Hawk said, elevated ALT and AST are a sign that something is not right. They can be elevated from inflammation in the liver (for instance, from Hep C), but many things can elevate them, including drinking alcohol. Often, if a person stops drinking, the liver enzymes will go down.

A liver biopsy wil tell you how much liver damage you have. Most likely the Gastroenterologist will order one when he/she sees you in August.

It is very normal to be afraid when we have a disease such as Hep C, especially if a person knows little about it. All of us were afraid. However, your appointment with the Gastroenterologist is not that far away. It always takes a while to get in to see docs who specialize.

One thing that I would want to be very certain about is the Gastroenterologist's qualifications:
Does he/she specialize in treating liver disorders?
Has he/she treated Hep C patients before and, if so, how many.
Does he/she treat the side effects of the medications (this is a must).
Does he/she explain everything in detail (prognosis, tests, treatment, disease  course, etc.)
Do you feel comfortable with the doc and trust the doc.

I mention the qualifications because all Gastroenterologists are not experts in Hep C or Hep C treatment. You want someone who specializes in treating Hep C and liver diseases. We have seen many people on the forum being treated by doctors who were inexperienced and/or unqualified to treat Hep C. Having an unqualified doctor can jeopardize the success of your treatment.

The doctor should fully explain the treatment and the side effects of the drugs so you can make an informed decision.The doctor should also explain the potential consequences of not doing treatment.

There is treatment available for Hepatitis C. The treatments do vary some depending on which Hep C Genotype you have (1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, etc.).

The treatments are no picnic although some people have few side effects. Others have more.When you are deciding about treatment, you need to look at all of the pros and the cons of treating, and the pros and the cons of not treating. Hep C is not benign. It is a sneaky little virus that can silently damage the liver. However, the damage Hep C does is not limited to the liver. There are many diseases that Hep C can cause, trigger, or exacerbate. No not treating can have very negative consequences.

However, whether you treat soon or whether you treat in a few years, will be greatly influenced by your liver biopsy results. If you have little or no fibrosis, then you may want to wait for the new, all oral, drugs which may be out in 3-5 years. If you have a higher stage of fibrosis, then it would be advisable to treat sooner rather than later (while you still have the chance).

I am in my 43rd week of treatment (out of 48). My liver enzymes were elevated before treatment but they have been normal since I have been on treatment. In addition, even though I am still on treatment, in many ways I feel much better than I did before treatment. It is a good feeling. (By the way, treatment length depends on Genotype, past treatment history, and  when a person clears the virus during the current treatment.)

These 2 links will take you to a website that explains the tests:

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ast/tab/test#.UAXKZ_Xlt8E

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alt/tab/test#.UAXLW_Xlt8E

Try not to worry (easier said than done). You will be seen soon and once the ball gets rolling you will probably feel better.

Visit the forum frequently and ask any questions you have. This forum is an excellent source for reliable and up to date information concerning side effects,  treatment, and more. There are some extremely knowledgeable people on this forum and people are quick to respond to questions.

[rambleon40]

No do not be scared.  No need, and it doesn't do you any good anyway.

It's also very likely that if you dropped some excess weight and started eating very well and avoided alcohol those numbers would get a lot better.  I have Hep C virus in my body (I will not treat with interferon again) and my ALT / AST stays only slightly elevated and sometimes is within normal limits.  I do not drink or smoke.  I exercise.  I eat a lot of green leafy stuff.   I am 50.  When I was your age and eating pizza and drinking sometimes notwithstanding the Hep C, I had numbers similar to yours.  

If your doctor in August simply recommends interferon combo treatment without thoroughly discussing all the very serious side effects that can happen, I'd find another doctor.  It means he or she is not aware enough and not on guard to watch out for you.

[orphanedhawk]

It's not dangerous per se, its a sign that something is off and should be checked.

I had extremely high alt and ast levels, in the hundreds. It was from hep C. I did the treatment.
Now they're normal and I'm fine.

Don't worry, just don't drink, eat well, and keep your appointment.